Tesla are back and on spectacular form. This is superb. This review could simply be a list of positive adjectives with the only minor, almost completely negligible point that it is a little ballad heavy. You can probably guess by the song titles. A little Aerosmith-ish in that respect, but all the same they are powerful songs. That's 'cos they're not formulaic, they stand out. They have to, it's a long album. Over an hour, but a damn good hour. Most long albums run the risk of wearing people down and this is 20 minutes longer than your average one, but I've listened to it several times and I'm anything but bored.

The best track for me on the album is the opener, 'M.P.3'. It's an excellently thought out criticism at the modern worlds technology, and describes how some of the advances that have been made are not necessarily actually all that good, and that some things were simpler before. A favourite line is "and reaching out to a friend in need means more than a text from a cell phone screen". Amen to that. I am a little hypocritical here, cos while I agree with this, I am listening to a digital version of the album. In fact, were everything simpler I probably couldn't be a reviewer. Wouldn't have space for the records, see? Forgive me, Tesla, I assure you that in principle I am in agreement.

Tesla have strong staying power. Nothing has wavered, everything is on top of the game and the songs are right out of the classic era that most rock fans love more than any other. I'm talking about the 80s, of course. Doesn't mean it's an album uniquely for that type of fan and I would encourage any rock or metal fan to give this a go. The contemporary lyrical themes are brilliant because they take everyday issues and put them into a classic sound. There is no better hard rock album I have heard since joining power of metal, and this for me is right up there with some of the best I have ever heard. Dated in some places but fresh in others - and the so called 'dated' sounds are only present in so far as they are necessary characteristics of the genre.

The classic heavy rock tends to be one of the most popular rock genres, probably because it was one of the first - and this is something that has everything people love about that. It also has everything that people who only occasionally listen to rock will love - mainly 'cos most people that aren't rock fans only listen to the classic heavy rock and this is just what this is - and brilliantly done.

'Flip Side' is a particular favourite 'cos the lyrics are so contemporary and discuss things that piss most people off. It's like bitching about stuff but in a way that's a lot of fun. If only everyone bitched using rock and roll and a medium. Oh well...

Listen to it in the car with the windows down and the volume up as loud as you or your stereo can take it - start with 'Ricochet' and do so on your way to one of their gigs this summer. Check their website and get your asses to see this fantastic band. This was an absolute pleasure to have reviewed.