The opening riffs of ‘Monster’ – the second track to be shared from Loud George’s upcoming EP ‘Sex Teeth’ – give the impression that the band are about to share a dirty punk ‘n’ roll banger. However, this track isn’t all it initially seems to be…

After hitting a huge groove for the verse, the slightly punky aspects subside and the band share huge, slightly retro rock sounds that fall somewhere between the rougher edges of early 90s Gun and the trashier elements of Silver Dollar Room, before sliding into a slower, slightly grungy pre-chorus. The opening riffs are used very effectively as a bridge, and these three different styles aren’t as disparate as you might think. The way Loud George fuse everything together creates a literal monster of a hard rocker that provides a perfect showcase for all concerned.

Despite shifting between styles throughout, the guitar work – supplied with gusto by Eric Hayes – has a confident and consistent feel, and the gritty edges are perfect for his slightly grubby sounding vocal. The rhythm section pack almost as much of a punch, but there’s nothing about the Loud George sound that seems unnecessarily forceful or blusterous for the sake of it. Behind the riffs, ‘Monster’ shares some great melodic hooks, not least of all during a chorus which aims to rouse the audience with a semi old-school charm. This is classic hard rock with a slightly more contemporary twist.

Marking an important part of the second chapter in Loud George’s history, ‘Monster’ is the kind of track that deserves to reach new ears.

Watch the video below.