Album Review - The Struts - Young And Dangerous (Polydor Records)

British rock group The Struts will hopefully make the big breakthrough that they deserve with this their second album.

The band could have stayed in the UK and continued to tour but without any radio airplay they would have probably ended up like many other rock bands before them and going nowhere.

Things changed when the band were taken under the wings of American management with The Struts spending the majority of their time touring America and gigging non stop playing everywhere that had a stage! Motley Crue and the Foo Fighters are fans of the group and it is easy to see why.

In the past the band have been compared to Queen, lead singer Luke Spiller does have a look and stage presence of Freddie Mercury but on this second album the comparisons begin to loosen.

Spiller says that he is looking forward to the UK tour in February when "we can sing these new songs together " it will be an easy task as these songs are in the mould of classic rock tracks - think Bon Jovi, Aerosmith mixed in with the Anthems of Oasis and you should be getting the picture.

The album opens with Body Talks a showstopper in itself before the Primadonna Like Me - there cannot be an album released this year that has had such an impact on its first two tracks. The lyrics tend to be about success and not letting missed opportunities pass you by, not that The Struts are going to let any chances pass them by.

Tatler Magazine sees the band dreaming about appearing in the prestigious magazine, who knows I'm sure they will at some point. It is songs like these that re-affirm your faith that British rock is still alive and kicking.

It is only on Ashes (Part 2) where they sound like Queen, it is like Don't Stop Me Now mixed with a chorus that Ed Sheeran would be proud of.

The album ends as it starts with Body Talks but this time featuring Kesha which gives the song a new twist. Probably the best rock album of the year from a British band.

I give the album 4 out of 5.

The Struts play Leeds Stylus on Saturday 16 February 2019