Adam & The Hellcats release their eagerly anticipated follow up to Claws Out on 1st Feb, a 12 track, genre bending album available on CD and streaming services.

I have written this review as I listen to it, so there’s no big poetic words, just my instant honest reaction, I hope it helps….

The opening track What The Cat Dragged In firmly puts the stake in the ground of the intentions of the this album to deliver raucous punk tinged Rock n Roll with dual vocal assault of Adam Feasey and Cirwen Costa.

We are given a taste of the versatility of this band with the metal rap and shout-a-long Battlecry, I’m typing as I listen to the album and I have to tell you this is a helluva diverse album. The intro to Demons takes me to dark side, before the virtuosity of Black Witch Bomb blows my mind. Cirwens vocals are spectacular!!

Next up, Out In The Night, led by the Keyboards with the guitars taking a back seat, as Adam and Cirwen exchange vocals, with a cracking Guitar style solo played on the keys. The tempo drops and a more traditional keyboard sound ensues for the Lighter (Camera light) raising track Thank You, sung from the heart by Adam.

Ok Now!! We have rested long enough as have the guitars, Victory March smacks us around the face with an uplifting guitar riff bringing us out of the euphoria of the previous track, so far probably the punkiest vocals, however the guitar is so 80’s, then in comes Cirwen to really make this proud to be British track rise up. Love that track! 

Where have you been hiding the bass player? Nice intro to Captain Black, a gutsy, bluesy rocker with Cirwen taking the inital lead vocal, is that a keys vs guitar battle going on there? Captain Black exudes sheer power and energy.

We move more into a melodic metal genre with more rap in Call a Hearse, as I progress through the album, I am getting more and more excited about where else they can go on one record. I don’t think I’m going to be able to pick a favourite. 

End of the Line has a Motorhead melody with a new metal almost funk feel to it, again completely different to anything that has gone before. Cirwen taking the lead vocal on this fast paced, runaway train with the very modernised classic Guitar vs Keyboard blend, there’s hints of Deep Purple in here.

Scumbag brings us back to basics very punk driven vocals and sound, vocals shared, I’m sure this will be a live classic if it isn’t already, fists pumping and plenty of jumping around, I’m sure.

The album wraps up with Peace, Love (and Rock n Roll) another catchy as hell track, This is the call and response track of the album, proper old school rock n roller with a classic solo battle between the Guitars and Keys. Phew I’m knackered!! And breath!

This album is a bloody masterclass in how not to get pigeon holed!! I would say its one of the most diverse albums I’ve heard. The dual vocals, the sheer vibrant energy of this album makes it a must buy. More importantly I am now desperate to see this band live, because if this is what they deliver in a studio, it beggars belief what they can do live!!!

Buy It, Love It.

Peace, Love And Rock and Roll indeed!!!! Meooowww!!