If you're unfamiliar with THE UGLY KINGS, you're missing out on one the most refreshing bands that has come around in the last eight or so years. This is a back-to-basics rock band that sounds like THE JOHN SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION discovered hard rock or Jim Morrison never died but instead stayed young and moved to Australia and joined a Power Blues band. The band formed sometime around 2014 and have two EPs, one live album, one remastered album (with added material), and two full-length albums-the second, "Strange, Strange Times" being released August 2021 on Napalm Records.

Although the band is based in Melbourne, Australia, the members come from all over the globe. Their common ground, of course, is bad ass, heavy rock, so hurray for diversity. While some bands are known for their wide-ranging, explorative trajectory and others for their static, unmoving grounding, THE UGLY KINGS play the middle ground, enjoying forward progression while staying true to their essential sound. What you get is consistency and growth. You can listen to the debut EP, "Of Sins," and then "Strange, Strange Times" and know it's the same band with the same resolute bluesy ethos. As a real test, you can listen to their 2021 live album, "Killing Time at Cherry Bar," and hear them play material from across their entire catalogue with undeviating musical integrity.

"Strange, Strange Times" is definitely an album of our times. With tracks like "Strange, Strange Times," "The Devil Comes with a Smile," and "Another Fucking Day," it's like reading last week's the headlines. Personally, I wouldn't say the band is especially prone to social commentary. They are more likely to sing about wicked lovers than critiques of life, the universe, and everything. Until now. And it's a good shift. While I love hearing Russell Clark go on about deviant lovers, when he spits "it's another fucking day / Another new disaster / Waiting for the news to tell you who you're meant to blame" I say amen, brother.

THE UGLY KINGS are at their best when they steer away from catchy trappings and stick with the basic formula of stomping rhythm, groovy riffs, and belting vocals. Best tracks on the album are "Strange, Strange Times," "Technodrone," "Last Man Left Alive," "Lawman," "The Devil Comes with a Smile," and "Another Fucking Day." There are no major regrets, but certainly a few tracks that are executed better than others-for instance, "Mr. Hyde" felt like they tried too hard and while I liked the melody and rhythm of "Do You Feel Like You're Paranoid?" the lyrics come across as overwrought.

THE UGLY KINGS isn't a metal band and while you won't find them in Metal Archives, I think you'll find them in the record collections of a lot metalheads. They are visceral, authentic, and true to their brand of Power Blues rock. They are respected by their peers and revered by their fans. I imagine if you catch them live, you'll be telling people about it for years to come. So, yeah, I highly endorse this album. Another great band from the land of sunshine and sharks.