Progressive Hard Rockers Irritant are back with a new EP, “Old Bones“. It will blow you away as only good progressive rock music can. But first Stephen Morris has an apology to make.

Very, Very Metal

The comment was meant to indicate that Irritant were very, very metal. Unfortunately, the right hand side of the Periodic Table is where you will find all the non-metals. Which is probably why today I am writing CD reviews and not pursuing that elusive Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

The band have since quoted my comment on their website. So, sorry Niall, Will, Jack and Pete. I got it a bit wrong. But if you feel like re-quoting me (and I won’t blame you if you don’t), a line like “this lot should find themselves well to the left hand side of the Periodic Table” will hopefully do the trick.

Right. Apology over. Let’s get on with the review. You will be pleased to hear there will be no further mention of my limited grasp of GCSE Chemistry from now on.

Multi-formatted

Irritant have unleashed not one, but two behemoths of rock upon an unsuspecting public. One in CD form, the other in glorious DVD. Now, not only can you hear the sonic booms, blasts and screeches of one of the hottest acts in Gloucestershire, you can also see them without having to resort to getting crushed in a sweaty gig for your trouble.

This band are getting better and better. Time was that I dreaded receiving heavier rock music in the post. My sensitive Belle and Sebastian loving soul can only take so much of an ear bashing. However, with Irritant I am a new convert.

Toccata and Fugue in Loud

Their music is intense without being earnest. It’s loud - oh yes, it’s loud - but it’s also got a brain cell or two behind it. Tracks like “Old Bones” (featured on the excellent black and white DVD) are as well thought out as any baroque fugue. The various sections come together to form an awesome whole.

Nowhere is this care and attention to melody, harmony and production values more apparent than in the showdown to end all showdowns, the EP’s grand finale “Heart of Glass”. It’s an instrumental track which sees the guitarists duelling it out over who can do the best solo. Forget Battle of the Bands (a competition which they won in Dursley), at times it seems like there’s a battle within the band.

The Max and the Min

Lead singer, Niall Thomas has a minimal approach to his vocals (the only thing “minimal” about the whole band). When he does sing, it’s with a voice up in the higher registers, away from the gruff belchings that you might expect of a metal act. There are shades of Brian Molko there.

But it is in the instrumental parts (and tracks) that the band truly excel. “Old Bones”, their current signature track begins with a gentle, soaring guitar solo straight out of the David Gilmour Book of Guitar Solos and is soon joined by Thomas’ vocals. But it’s not long before the chugging metalwork is introduced and the excitement begins.

Epic

Like all good heavy rock tracks (and quite a few bad ones), “Old Bones” is a song of epic proportions (it winds up at a breath-taking 6 minutes 43 seconds). Comparisons to “War and Peace” would not be out of place. But every bar, every beat and every single semi-quaver are perfect and you couldn’t have it any other way.

Irritant proclaim that they aim “to bring back traditional values of true rock music” which makes them sound like the “Daily Express” of the music world. They are, of course, far from it - as any rebel with a heavy rocking cause would be.

With their gutsy lyrics, blinding guitar solos and a nigh on symphonic approach to their song writing, this band remain one of the brightest and best acts around.

It’d be interesting to hear them do their take on the “Express delivery” jingle, though……