Cancer Bats have been a favourite of mine ever since they surfaced with their brand of Southern infused Hardcore on debut album ‘Birthing The Giant’ and despite sticking to the same blueprint though to ‘Dead Set on Living’ (album number 4) they have found ways to keep the sound from going sterile.

In this instance its their love of Black Sabbath that’s writ large (self confessed after their Bat Sabbath diversions) Although clocking in at 40 minutes it flies by in one listen but sticks in the brain for its delightful variations of pace.

“R.A.T.S” opens in typical style with its southern / Stoner riffage and Hardcore fury however “Bricks & Mortar” really fires up with a Sabbath worshipping main riff and anthemic bouncing chorus, which rolls in to the short sharp Punk of “Road Sick” and the immense metallic groove of Breath Armageddon that features the bass line breakdown to die for! Whilst the crushing Doom laden-atmosphere “The Void” is shattered by the equally crushing but intense fury of “Old Blood” also Dez Dafara lend his vocals chords to potential festival anthem “Bastards!”

Some tracks do appear lost among the gold such as the title track “D.S.O.L” and ‘”New World Alliance” as despite being good songs get sandwiched between the above group of belters.