Unless you're in the mood to rock-out full pelt for fifty minutes it can be an intense and noisy experience.

Hailing from Sweden, Hypnos peddle a Hard Rock sound rooted firmly in the seventies, with two albums under their belt so far. When the label they were signed to was put on hold the band's singer, Philip Lindgren, decided to leave, but unperturbed, Hypnos carried on and recruited Linus Johansson as their new vocalist and recording this live album to introduce him to their fans.

The album is not a live recording captured on stage, it's a studio session which serves to show off the band's energy as apparently they are a strong live act. Plus, it gives Johansson a chance to put his stamp on six songs from the band's previous two records, as well as laying down two new songs. Johansson has a strong voice with only a slight accent, and has a good range and a scream in the Gillan style.

The band are smart and open with a new track, 'Ain't No Fool', which sets the stall out with galloping drums and throbbing bass underpinning the lead guitar lines. They rattle through 'Border Patrol', where Johansson reminded me a bit of Bruce Dickinson, along with other older songs such as 'Hands Of Evil', 'Nightmares' and 'The Mountain' with vigour.

The second new song 'Looking Out' is almost Motörhead, with its fuzzy bass and rapid-fire riff, and that is the one criticism I'd cite; the album follows a similar path throughout, with the booming drums and bass, soaring vocals and frantic fretboard work never stopping for breath. Even when the band close proceedings with a cover of ABBA's 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' it's a Hard Rock take on it.

Hypnos are as energetic as they are enthusiastic, and the new singer has clearly given them a shot in the arm, but they've produced this to sound as live as possible. That means unless you're in the mood to rock-out full pelt for fifty minutes it can be an intense and noisy experience.

James Gaden