With their self-titled album, Texans SWITCHBLADE JESUS deliver exactly what you might expect from a hard rock band from the southern US, and a little bit more on top.

The five-piece mix the bluesy and hard rock vibes prevalent in so many bands, and adds a heavier, grittier edge and gnarl to it. At times, tinges of ZZ TOP, and perhaps JOE BONAMASSA, are evident in their sound, in addition to the more modern, groove heavy style that the likes of BLACK STONE CHERRY play. This may not sound like anything overly original or special, but for some reason, SWITCHBLADE JESUS simply click, and the result is a belter of an album!

Opening in unexpected fashion, "Into Nothing", with its ambient synths and acoustic guitars, builds an exciting and tense atmosphere - imagine the wait before a stand-off in your favourite Western film. When pistols are finally drawn, "Bastard Son" immediately shows the bluesy swagger that the band has, and is hugely enjoyable.

The style set out on the opening tracks continues throughout the album. While perhaps not that original, the catchy riffs and heavy bluesy grooves would still be bound to get fists pumping and beers flowing in a live setting. The vocal performance is great, filled with plenty of energy and passion, although it can sometimes be lost in the mix, due to the slightly iffy production. However, this is not a huge problem, as, ironically, too much polish in the studio would take the shine off SWITCHBLADE JESUS.

This is one of those records where you can't quite put your finger on exactly what it is that makes it special, but it just works! With so much authenticity and passion, it makes for an immersive and addictive album, and a great little bit of escapism! Simply put, SWITCHBLADE JESUS take you on a trip to their little corner of the United States with this album... and that's no mean feat!<