A quick bit of internet trawling and I discover that DUCKWALK CHUCK'S latest album "Fired Up" has been out for a couple of months already. It's the Norwegian quartet's fifth long-player, although for me this is a first encounter with them. I suppose the name of the band suggested that it wasn't going to be dark black metal or even soaring symphonic black metal, two genres that are synonymous with their homeland. Instead, it's 40 minutes of AC/DC grooved rock n' roll over ten songs that vary in tempo, but all retain a gritty, bar room boogie feel that isn't ever going to win an originality contest but is always likely to get the foot tapping along. Can it do any more than that? Hmm.

Things open in a promising enough manner. "All Fired Up" is a thumping rock and roller, all fists in the air and driving beat. It's AIRBOURNE lite, but I was already thinking that if these guys were playing in your local rock bar that you'd grab a beer and head on down to see what they have to offer. It's rather predictable, but infectious at the same time. "Ghost Town" comes straight from the AC/DC book of riffs, and again, it's a decent song which gets the head nodding. But the huge problem with DUCKWALK CHUCK is that if I want to listen to AC/DC, then I'd listen to AC/DC, because no-one can touch them.

"Fired Up" is still an enjoyable listen. "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" has an infectious rhythm which allows Arvid Thorsen's gravel-soaked vocals to come to the fore. A solid chug leads neatly into "Motor Madness", which is one of the weaker songs on the album with a repetitive chorus that really doesn't inspire. "Reckless Driver" at least catches the rock 'n' roll vibe; it's a track that you could have imagined Lemmy banging out with HEAD CAT or even with MOTÖRHEAD. It's got enough swagger, that's for sure. There's a bit of diversity on "Rosies", a track that has a touch of SIR ADMIRAL CLOUDESLEY SHOVELL about it and anything that echoes those Hastings legends works for me. "Shut Your Lights" also works well, one of the better tracks here, mainly because the tempo is spot on. This is a greasy, dirt under the fingernail's song, and it's all the better for the additional of a bit of dirt.

In summary, "Fired Up" is a bit of a marmite release. I certainly enjoyed listening to it in parts, and there are a couple of crackers tucked away. But there's also a bit of filler and some rather pedestrian songs. Would I want to play it again in a few weeks? The answer is probably no.