ADMIRAL SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVELL

Very Uncertain Times RISE ABOVE

Pub metal perfection to raise the spirits

Even as society crumbles around us, certain things can be relied upon to provide solace. As unwavering as the tides, Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell refuse to acknowledge a world that doesn’t reek of fags, booze, cheap leather and piss, and that’s why Very Uncertain Times is every bit as uplifting and reassuring as the trio’s previous records. If anything, this is a sharper and grittier Admiral than before, their lurching, maximalist rhythm’n’blues now tense and fidgety from unavoidable exposure to real-world bullshit. The title track is a boisterous starting point, but the swaggering psych of Iceberg and No Man’s Land’s frenzied punk-prog best showcase how this brilliant band continue to evolve while still sounding like the last 35 years never happened. ■■■■■■■■■■

FOR FANS OF: Orange Goblin, Budgie, Motörhead DOM LAWSON