Healthy Junkies are one of those bands who seem to have been slowly getting better and better through their career and with their third album "Box of Chaos", they've delivered their strongest offering to date. Fired along by a snotty punked-up energy and featuring some of the best tunes they've put their name to so far, these guys are definitely starting to fulfil their potential. On this evidence, album number four could be a real stormer.
29 THE MUTANTS - "Tokyo Nights"
One of the more bizarre things you'll hear this year, the Mutants' second album saw them abandoning the straight-up punk of their debut and relocating to the Orient to make a J-Rock album. Herein you'll find a mix of frenetic pop punk, wildman rockabilly, slow-burning torch songs, harmonica honking blues rock and insane surf instrumentals. Madder than a box of stoats in other words but they do it with such enthusiasm that you can't help but get swept along with the ride.
28 THE KINGCROWS - "Funland"
Debut album proper from Leeds' Kingcrows after two competent EP's and they definitely announced their arrival in style with this one. Thirty minutes of fun, fast and furious rock 'n' roll that comes across like Yorkshire's answer to Dirt Box Disco, there's nothing here to suggest that this lot won't be around for quite some time to come. Good stuff.
27 BLACK STAR RIDERS - "The Killer Instinct"
Second album from the former Thin Lizzy Mk2 and it's a worthy follow-up to their debut, 2013's "All Hell Breaks Loose". It contains all the fist-pumping rock action you'd expect with a couple of unexpected curveballs thrown in there to keep things interesting such as the dark balladry of "Blindsided" and the Slash 'n' Axlisms of "Sex, Guns & Gasoline". Well worth a listen.
26 THE SCARAMANGA SIX - "The Terrifying Dream"
One of the weirdest and most complex albums you'll hear all year from these Leeds experimental rockers but there's no denying that they definitely peddle a very alluring brand of weirdness. Sounding like Ginger Wildheart's more experimental moments rubbing shoulders with the Cardiacs and the Fall while Nick Cave looks on morosely, "The Terrifying Dream" is anything but easy listening but it's definitely a grower.
25 ANGELIC UPSTARTS - "Bullingdon Bastards"
First album in over a decade from the Upstarts and "Bullingdon Bastards" was a ferocious clarion cry from Mensi's men. Packed full of the sort of call to arms invective that the Upstarts do so well with the band sounding tight and focused throughout. Welcome back lads, we've missed you.
24 DIRT BOX DISCO - "Only In It For The Money"
The fact that this album contains songs called "Fat Twats And Scumbags" and "If You Want A Sexy Bird, Join A Fuckin' Band" should tell you all you need to know that Dirt Box Disco are doing anything but growing old gracefully. And what's equally undeniable is that their knack for an earworm of a tune and a big Buzzcocks style shoutalong chorus is just as intact as ever as well. Now with an added seal of approval from none other than Ginger Wildheart, 2016 could just be a very big year for these Midlands madmen and if it is then Lord knows, they've earned it.
23 FROM THE DEEP - "From The Deep"
Sadly the final recordings from Flesh For Lulu/Urban Voodoo Machine man Nick Marsh who tragically left us in June this year. "From The Deep", a collaboration album with his long time paramour Katharine Blake (Medieval Baebes/Miranda Sex Garden) was a fitting epitaph to the man, veering from gothic folk to Voodoos style scuzziness without losing its step once. Like Marsh's "A Universe Between Us" album, it's perfect to listen to with a glass of red wine watching the stars from your window at 3am.
22 KILLING JOKE - "Pylon"
35 years into their career and there's no sign of Killing Joke mellowing. "Pylon" was a big bruising beast of an album, clocking in at 50 plus minutes for ten songs but keeping you interested every second of the way. From the pummelling riffs of "Dawn Of The Hive" to the almost "Love Like Blood" style pop sensibilities of "Euphoria", "Pylon" is another impressive addition to the Killing Joke canon.
21 RADKEY - "Dark Black Makeup"
For once, a band where the mainstream music press hype was justified. Radkey's debut album sounded like a collision between Danzig, the Foo Fighters and a pre-shark jump Queens of the Stone Age, veering from dark melodrama ("Evil Doer") through sleazy goth rock ("Best Friends") to full on punk fury ("Glore", "Soloman's Song"). Given their young age, it's scary to think how good this lot could potentially get with time.
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