‘Broken out, shackled down, not yet free, Start again, helpless flail, wake up dead, a good run of bad luck ends, It’s out of hand’ (Count Your Days)

Let’s face it, when you see a band is called Tormented Imp you have an inkling of what might ensue.  And to be sure, you would be half right.  The Leeds band do indeed draw a healthy inspiration from Poison Idea and it is one that this debut 7-inch undoubtedly does savage justice to.  The waves of filthy riffage and burly rhythms forge an uncompromising barrage, while the coarsely gruff vocals are saturated in nihilistic fury at a society wilfully devouring itself.

And yet early in the opening track, Punishment, there is a fleeting shard of NWOBHM inspired melody that hints that there is also another dynamic at play.  It soon becomes clear as dramatically melodic solos are unleashed with a savage glee that the bludgeoning onslaught is equally animated by a love of Japanese Burning Spirits hardcore.  Each of the four tracks slam home with a vicious intent with, perhaps, the intertwining of bruising breakdowns and searing solos on Count Your Days and Out To Dry proving my personal highlights.