Italian foursome DIRTY FINGERS found their name in a set of guitar pickups that provided the perfect sound for the material they were writing... and that name perfectly encapsulates their debut album, "250 Dollars". With sleazy, grimy grooves reminiscent of the 80s LA metal scene, plenty of vocal hooks to make you lift your drink in the air, and a bluesy swagger, "250 Dollars" definitely leaves you feeling... well, dirty.

The album kicks off in no-nonsense fashion, with "Back To The Move" delivering plenty of attitude, before "Whiskey" provides a chorus that, as you might expect, makes you want a glass of the drink in question. DIRTY FINGERS then show that they can deliver on more than just one front, as the second half of the song provides a change of pace, and some surprising but brilliant harmonica work. Yes, you read that right... there's a harmonica!

The album builds up a head of steam with some short and snappy songs. Great guitar work and catchy rhythms come by the bucket load, and it's obvious that DIRTY FINGERS really gel as a band! "Black Magic Night" delivers a brilliant change of mood, with some acoustic and ballad based sections making for a strong mid-point of the record.

The second half continues in similar fashion. The album's title track, "Dirty Fingers", features some standout drum work, and can't fail to put a smile on your face. Seventh track, "Heroes' Days", features some great bass lines, and an ending that really catches you off guard - give it a listen for sure! Closing the album, "Nothingness Dance" uses a slower, almost doom-like groove initially, before the final moments are a flurry of up-tempo rhythms and great instrumental work. This makes for an exciting and memorable way to conclude the album.

With "250 Dollars", DIRTY FINGERS take you right into the midst of a sleazy Irish drinking den, and serve up an albums worth of material where the momentum just doesn't let up. With sprinklings of some adventurous ideas throughout, in terms of both instrumentation (such as the harmonica) and structure, it seems the band have only shown the tip of the iceberg, and intentionally leave you wanting more!<