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Progressive rock bands and pretentious heavy metal bands do concept albums, but not rock‘n’roll bands. And especially not bands as rock’n’roll as Buckcherry. Hence Buckcherry describe this sixth album euphemistically as “a thematic record”.

But a concept album it surely is – one based on the seven deadly sins. And mostly it works. Conceptually it’s not a stretch for a band who made their name with cokehead anthem Lit Up and stripper’s favourite Crazy Bitch, and musically it’s business as usual, Buckcherry keeping it simple on kick-ass hard rock songs such as Gluttony, Wrath, Lust and… you get the picture.

There is, however, some cause for alarm. Accompanying the album is a short film scripted by singer Josh Todd. These rock stars never learn.

Freelance writer for Classic Rock since 2005, Paul Elliott has worked for leading music titles since 1985, including Sounds, Kerrang!, MOJO and Q. He is the author of several books including the first biography of Guns N’ Roses and the autobiography of bodyguard-to-the-stars Danny Francis. He has written liner notes for classic album reissues by artists such as Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy and Kiss, and currently works as content editor for Total Guitar. He lives in Bath - of which David Coverdale recently said: “How very Roman of you!”