From their Facebook page, CITY OF THIEVES is "a very new and very British hard rock band launched in June 2015 right from the heart of London, made up of individuals who stood tall and rose above the ashes when the established underground rock scene crumbled and fell to the further corporate development of Europe's biggest city throughout 2014. Now, CITY OF THIEVES is a vehicle to bring you a firsthand commentary on the inner workings of such a place where corruption and deceit lies just beneath a thin crust of intoxication and wild nights, and provides a scream of defiance to maintain the proud heritage and restore the city's former glory, Their debut, "Beast Reality," contains twelve tracks.

The title track leads us off. It's a mid-tempo rocker with a familiar sound. It's tough and edgy and the vocals have a trademark snarl to them. No guitar solo until the very end, just straight up rocking. "Fuel and Alcohol" features an easy listening riff and vocals that remind me a bit of early AC/DC with a little more control. The song is fast moving and the chorus lets it all hang out. "Buzzed up City" opens with tender clean guitar notes with the steady thumping of bass joining in. The riff here really reminds me of AC/DC. It's a great piece of energy and with a long chorus to really stamp the sound. "Control" has more of a dirty Southern sound to it. The main riff is a real head-nodder and with a great vocal delivery. The guys really believe in their sound and you can hear that reflected in the performance.

"Incinerator" is a slower song that uses a swinging sound to push the melody. It's a bit heavier and more aggressive than earlier tracks. "Animal" is a bit faster and more engaging. Again, that early AC/DC influence is very much alive here, with vocals that remind me a bit of Phil Lewis from LA GUNS, especially when he reaches the upper ranges of his voice. "They day you try to stop me, I'll fight you like an animal." "Born to be Great" is like war cry to be alive. It has a straightforward riff which is easy to assimilate and a balls-out chorus, talking about "having the time of my life." "Damage" is a bit of a heavier song based on the low E chord which digs deep. It features a guitar solo with prolific doses of "wah-wah."

"Give it Away" is another fast mover with a simple riff and melody that is easy to sing along with. I can see how this would translate into a good live performance. "Something of Nothing" features a strong and expressive vocal performance. It appears they saved the best for last, because it's my favorite on the album. It has an honest feeling to it. Overall, I feel like this was a good first effort for the trio, to bring back good old fashioned Rock and Roll with a bit of an attitude. In the instances where they don't sound like AC/DC, they do a good job of composing and performing they own brand of music. They have the talent, they just need some more personal insight.