FOLLOWING the ill-advised electro-leanings of Language Sex Violence Other, Stereophonics have rediscovered their unreconstructed rock roots and cranked it up to 11. Opening with the fiery metal newsflash, Soldiers Make Good Targets, the record burns through familiar territory without sounding tired or drawn. It's arguably the band's most conventional album of their 10 year career.

Kelly Jones seems to have ditched the introspection and gone for bigger themes on the slow ones like It Means Nothing, Bright Red Star and the dark and tender Daisy Lane; but the sounds of the streets fill the anthemic Bank Holiday Morning. Rest assured, Stereophonics are still very much in love with guitars and girls - and they don't care who knows it.