S.A.R.S.

What a killer EP! The Croydon-based boys of Struckdown - indeed, the self-proclaimed “Drinking Man’s Band” - are an alcohol-fuelled no-nonsense hard rock band, much in the vain of Black Label Society, and at times Alice in Chains. After getting a personal delivery from P.J. the guitarist - or indeed “a large man on a large motorbike” as my little bro described him - on his way through town, I sat down feeling special and gave it a spin.

Playing this CD through a speaker system, (the louder the better with this band), there is clearly something magical about this recording. The best tracks are the “Blood Stained Lord” and “Hell or High Water”, although the other two are not far off. “I Stand Alone”, after its brilliant mellow intro, turns into the catchiest song, and I have found myself humming it more than a few times. “Stone Cold and Broken” is on the whole not too bad - the chorus is attention-grabbing, though it does not match up to the other three.

Great vocals, awesome work from the stringers, (especially the solo in “Hell or High Water”) and the drums have enough punch to knock out a whale - exactly what a band as rocking as this one needs. A full-length would present the diversity the band is trying to show they have a little better - but this is an extremely respectable effort.