When a press package from this mob arrived at Uber's Belfast office, we just had to rip it open immediately and explore further. We mean, who could resist finding out more about a band called Dr Living Dead! (please note the exclamation mark!) - surely a contender for best name of the year?

What we found is a bunch of young Swedes who not only wear masks but hide behind names such as Dr Ape and Dr Toxic! Ok, it's another bunch of wannabe Slipknots? Not exactly - after all, the wearing of masks (and the adoption of silly alter egos) is nothing new in metal circles... Crimson Glory, Lizzy Borden: Alice Cooper, even.

What we actually have is a crossover/thrash band very much in the vein of Suicidal Tendencies, DRI and Stormtroopers of Death, with 16 tracks crammed into a little over 35 minutes on what was originally a self-released debut but now has been picked up by the German High Roller label.

While there is still a lot of work to do, and there's a massive feeling of déjà vu about a lot of the songs, it's nevertheless a good effort. There are moments of total anarchic fury, such as opener 'World War Nine', 'Slime From Above', 'Dead End Life' and the brilliant closing combo of 'UFO Attack' and 'Reptiles Beneath', loads of movie references ('Kindergarten Cop', 'Hard Target', 'Chucky' and 'Gremlins Night' - well, those Swedes have to do something on those month-long dark nights, apart from kill each other!) and lots of referential nods to the genre's forbearers. There's also a goodly dose of tripe - 'My Brain is For Sale' being a prime example.

Vocalist Ape sounds a wee bit too close to a young Joey Belladonna on many occasions - e.g. 'Revenge On John', the title track or 'Hard Target' - but the rhythm section of Dr Dawn and Dr Rad drive the songs along with power: there are some nice Flea/Trujillo-like bass touches from Rad in particular (see the intro to 'Dr Living Dead' or 'Feed The Cyco', for example).  Guitarist Dr Toxic also does a competent enough job, although again veers a bit too close to Anthrax territory rather than develop an individual sound.

A competent effort, all in all.

www.facebook.com/drlivingdead