The Portsmouth-based post-hardcore mob Munroe Effect have risen from the ashes of a less than fruitful management deal and decided to crack on and produce their debut album themselves, and a quality, professional job they have done too. With a rather smart digipack wrapped in some fantastic artwork by Doug Boehm, I hoped for something a bit special...

Munroe Effect create jagged soundscapes interspersed with soft melodic passages, a very modern rock sound. Lead off track 'The Escape (part 2)' starts things off well, jagged riffing cutting through the crisp, clear production, it's melodic and modern sounding, like At The Drive-In mixing it up with Young Guns. Download single '..Call In The Futurists!' showcases the repetitive riffing style that dominates this album along with the hardcore screaming - it's three mins of pretty intense stuff.

Interesting arrangements and odd time signatures are prevalent throughout 'Ultraviolenceland' but with a distinct lack of catchy melodies or choruses I struggle to gain much satisfaction from the songs on offer after several listens. There is a lot going on in every song, too much to be honest, from full jagged stop-start riffs to soft passages and then hardcore screaming - it gets predictable as the album continues.

That said, there is rewards with repeated listens, and I'm sure fans of shouty metal and modern sounding hardcore will lap it up. With airplay on the Radio 1 Rock Show and supports with The Subways and Young Guns, the future is bright for Munroe Effect.

www.myspace.com/munroeeffect