Wolfmother, the Australian wonder down under, have done what few bands accomplish - outdo a critically acclaimed breakthrough album while surviving an almost complete change in lineup. Originally a trio comprising vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett, the band released their debut self-titled album in 2005, and reached number three on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart. Yet, despite all of the acclaim, the CD for me lacked any real depth or ingenuity and while 'Woman' was a more than capable song it was let down by all the other tunes surrounding it. They seemed almost destined to the path many have travelled of either being a one hit wonder or at best turning out CD's that would never garner the critical kudos their debut did.

However, lead singer Stockdale apparently had other ideas that have thankfully given way to THE Wolfmother CD that should have been released to begin with.

After some co-founding members left the band due to "irreconcilable personal and musical differences," Stockdale reformed the band with new members but this time around they are a quartet. This sudden burst of musical vitality seeming like exactly what Wolfmother needed not to become a one hit wonder resting on its laurels. Enter 'Cosmic Egg' and a new breed of rock for Wolfmother that has indeed hatched.

Echoing equal parts Hendrix, Who, Uriah Heep and Sabbath, that gives the songs a rock, yet not quite metal, and definite psychedelic feel; 'Cosmic Egg' grabs you by the jugular with the fuzz bass intro of 'California Rising' and throttles you with their uncompromising, and too tight jeans, swagger for twelve tracks. There is the inevitable return to Led Zeppelin territory that was intimated on the debut in the shape of 'White Feather' and 'In The Castle' whilst the frankly colossal 'Pilgrim' is something of an acid rock masterpiece. There's plenty of rock goodness contained in this Egg  to keep fans of rock old and new more than happy, and thankfully this time around the alternative (or indie for you guys in the UK) influences that brought down the overall standard of the debut are few and far between.

It may have taken four years in the making and seen a few goodbyes personnel-wise but 'Cosmic Egg' is a model example of what Wolfmother can really be; a tight fisted rock band with no apologies and no fears. Cosmic? Sure. Celestial? Most definitely.

Get out there and catch the band live to witness the 'New Moon Rising' over the musical world for yourselves.

www.myspace.com/wolfmother