Album Review: The Amplifier Heads - "Rectifier"

 

Impressively, this is the second album in a little over 12 months from Rum Bar signed glam revivalists the Amplifier Heads following on from last year's rather good Saturnaliens. On that album, these Massachusetts natives came across as a group of starry-eyed dreamers in thrall to Bolan and Slade, almost like a 21st century version of Spiders & Snakes. And I'm pleased to report that Rectifier keeps that particular pot boiling over nicely right from the way the Arrows-style stomp of The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll kicks things into gear.

The standards remain high throughout, Underground cheekily nicks the riff from the Scorpions' Rock You Like A Hurricane, tips a bucket of Max Factor and glitter over it, plonks it in a pair of ridiculously high platform boots and shoves it back out on to the stage. Tape Deck slinks through the back alley powered on by sheer confidence while Maniaxe is a pure no-brainer Sweet style rush. Monsters is a bit of an unexpected curveball with the sinister keys and bass-heavy rhythm recalling Diamond Dogs era Bowie while Headhunter is a dark acoustic-led number which is quickly followed by a return to more familiar waters with the Stonesy riff of Space Cadette. Zombie Moon is, as its title suggests, a more slow and sinister number almost like a glammed-up Monster Mash before the sheer rock 'n' roll rush of Rock Rules signs this one off in style.

The Amplifier Heads deserve credit for building nicely on Saturnaliens by adding a few new tricks to their repertoire to make you sit up and take notice but at the same time keeping that knack for an undeniably addictive sugar rush of glammed up tunes and choruses to draw you in. In short, as we say up here in Yorkshire, Rectifier is alright for them what likes fun.

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NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)

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