Make no mistake, this is a proper, good-time Rock 'n' Roll record.

This album may well have been released in 2019, but it just screams 1973 at you. Yes, Hammered Satin deal in prime time, early seventies Glam Rock... or to be more accurate "Junk Shop Glam" which to the uninitiated is a sub-genre of the Glam movement. However, rather than look to the likes of Sweet, David Bowie, etc. for their influences, it's more a case of taking inspiration from groups such as Hector, Hello and Milk 'N' Cookies. Their previous album 'Glamorama' (released in 2013) was an absolute Glam stunner and I for one couldn't wait to get my greasy mitts on this latest opus.

A single glance at the song titles and you'll soon see what I mean; 'Satin Stomp' is exactly that, a rollicking stomper of a track that comes complete with authentic The Glitter Band sounding guitar work, handclaps and "hey, hey" chants! From that sensational opener it just gets better; 'Dynamite' is up next and it could easily have come from the pen of the legendary Glam song-writing team of Nicky Chinn/Mike Chapman with its football terrace stylings. 'Planet Boogie' sees the group take a slightly different tack with a cool Marc Bolan vibe and 'Candy Sugar Baby' is the most satisfying piece of Bubblegum Pop you'll hear this side of Chicory Tip!

The title-track itself is a smouldering piece of Glam where leader Noah Wallace takes centre stage to deliver a delightfully camp vocal. 'Silver Streak' is an adrenalin-fuelled rocker featuring a killer chorus before the band dive into 'Baby Vampire' with its fifties-inspired "shoo wops". 'Honey Squiss' is another good time tune and then it's all over far too soon with the only track that slows the frantic pace down, the quite wonderful 'Starchild'.

Almost every song clocks in at around the three-minute mark and wastes no time getting straight into the action. Make no mistake, this is a proper, good-time Rock 'n' Roll record. It's also pretty obvious that these guys are really serious about having a fun time and it all takes me right back to my formative teen years when I just couldn't get enough of this type of stuff.

Alongside Italy's Guida, Hammered Satin are without a doubt the best in the world at Glam Revivalism. It may be a little early in 2019 to predict my Album Of The Year*, but this will be right up there come December... no question!

Malcolm Smith

(* this review is from Fireworks Magazine #87)