Having recently blazed a trail across the UK as support to Dream State, Australian alternative-metal crew RedHook ensure they won’t be forgotten in a hurry by hitting us with their latest album. Featuring eleven scorching tracks, Mutation is a long player that finds the band on a creative high, mixing and matching styles in a way that only a band who’re onto a good thing can, this is a record that’s stitched together by its own eclecticism and revels in its diversity for a feisty take on rock that’s sure to sound fresh many years hence.

Acting as a portent for the rest of Mutation, ‘Pyromaniac’ is an explosive opener, a spark that fires the flame and the band send fireworks shooting in every direction. It’s a carnival for the ears and will light up your cranium like phosphorous flares exploding in the darkest sky. Certainly not made for somnambulists, it’s a contagious affair that will have all but the infirm and frail up and shaking their tush. As such it should really come with some kind of health warning: “may cause restless leg syndrome; administer with care”. Without missing a beat, and despite the sharp sonic shift, the horn laden ‘Breaking Up With’ follows seamlessly (where the hell did that come from?) and it’s not knowing what kind of curveball the band will throw next which makes Mutation such an engaging listen. This isn’t the type of record you put on as background music, it forces you to pay attention because if you don’t RedHook are liable to hit you with a sucker punch.

There’s some surprise guest appearances on here, most notably Holding Absence who RedHook shape in their own image on the high-octane ‘Dr Frankenstein’. Unlike some collaborations that can seem a tad cynical as a way for bands to break new markets, this one sounds like as if it has been done for the right reasons, each bringing their own flavour to the party. Likewise, when compatriots Alpha Wolf join RedHook on ‘Cannibal’ it displays a different facet of each band, which is exactly how unions should work.

Bouncing wildly like a silver ball between the pins Mutation is an album in constant motion and because of this there’s no danger in it becoming staid. Welcome to the future.

• Mutation is Self-Released on 22nd November 2024.

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Track List:

1. Pyromaniac
2. Breaking up With
3. Hexxx (feat. Vana)
4. Dr Frankenstein (feat. Holding Absence)
5. Bomb.Com
6. Hot Tub
7. Cannibal (feat. Alpha Wolf)
8. Hurt Like Hell
9. Party Zombie
10. Scream 2
11. Tourist