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When a debut sparks into life on a slide blues riff reminiscent of Zep’s In My Time Of Dying, the band must be doing something right, especially when the track in question – Wise Water – suddenly heads off into upbeat Skynyrd territory.

Bad Touch sure do like to wear their influences on their tatty denim sleeves – AC/DC, Black Crowes and Free to name but three – but when the results are this vital and rousing, really, who cares?

All you need are a wall of Marshalls and excellent tunes in the shape of the epic blues harp-toting Preacher, rip-snorting Motherload and cheeky Good On Me (Jeans Song), all played like the band’s lives depended on it. Straight-to-the-point classic hard rock – what’s not to like?/o:p

Whether it’s magazines, books or online, Essi has been writing about rock ’n’ metal for around thirty years. He has been reviews editor for Classic Rock and Metal Hammer, rock reviews editor for lads mag Front and worked for Kerrang!. He has also written the Rough Guide to Heavy Metal and contributed to the Rough Guide to Rock and Rough Guide Book of Playlists, and the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles (13th edition). Most fun interview? Tenacious D – Jack Black and Kyle Gass – for The Pick of Destiny movie book. An avid record/CD/tape collector, he’s amassed more music than he could ever possibly listen to, which annoys his wife no end.