Raising Sand! What a band! If they can't make it no one can! Ok, let me put my Pom Poms down for a second and be a little more serious. 
 

The first thing that strikes you about opening track 'Alchemy' from Raising Sand's debut album 'All Out War' is that you barely get chance to finish loading the CD into your stereo before it's off and racing down the track like a sex starved greyhound chasing a PVC clad rabbit. Precious little time is wasted on leaving you wondering what it is Raising Sand are here to do. They're here to bring the rock and shake heads harder than an earthquake at Mount Rushmore.  

In frontwoman TJ they've found an angel with devilish voice. If a certain Mr Hudson really is under the impression that Blackeyed Susan, sorry, Fergie is actually a rock chick then someone needs to slip him a copy of 'All Out War' so he can hear just what this shit is supposed to be delivered like, SERIOUSLY! With a Jopin-esque wail and more power than a Top Gear box set, TJ will have your speakers blowing like it's karaoke night in the Manowar household.

Brothers Greg (drums) and Graham Barthram (guitars) along with mad hatter bassist Dave Pattenden provide the music. A smokin', blistering mix of Seventies based, vibed up, bluesy rock 'n' roll straining at the boot cut seams of the London quartet. Reminiscent of what Rattlesnake Remedy were doing a few years back, it's laced with noticable influences from the likes of Led Zeppelin and The Doors, hell there's even a little of The Black Crowes in there to get your money maker shaking.

Lead single and video track 'Dirty Weekend' raises the rumble with a powerful leading bassline swerving its way through the 3 and a half minute quick fix of rock so earthy you'd think someone had dumped a ton of Woodstock topsoil in your ears. 'Witness' steps in to sooth the hectic action, providing some breathing space courtesy of a calming acoustic intro leading to some seriously laid back blues.
 

But it's not a completely flawless set of tracks altogether though. It would be possible to snap this disc in half with the mid section pairing of 'Shake Your Love' and 'Spirit' certainly being the weak point of this otherwise impressive collection. 'Spirit' at a staggeringly long 7 minute length certainly has me looking at my watch but that's soon forgotten as 'Burn It Down' brings the beat back with a triumphant fanfare of scorching guitar while follow up 'One More Time' sees more of that Led Zep strut reveling in a riotous marriage with some 'Crosstown Traffic' styled funk featuring a badass bassline that's got Noel Redding stamped all over it.
 

Raising Sand have brought nothing new to the musical table but that doesn't mean it's not a tad exciting. A genuine spark of authentic R n R delivered with belief and passion is enough to get my über noggin nodding and put a smile on my face. They're never going to send tidal waves of cultural change around the world like the Sex Pistols, Nirvana or The Hard Corps did, but what they will do is provide plenty of feel good vibes to the rock 'n' roll lives of anyone that decides to give this disc a spin. Ideal barbeque and beer music, I can see a few loud summer evenings and burnt sausages ahead.

For anyone who wants an instant fix, the single 'Dirty Weekend' is available on iTunes right now. For the album hit up their website store. 

www.myspace.com/raisingsand