The new six track mini album from Tamworth's finest Lost In Vegas hits my letterbox with a promo sheet that I ignore - simply so I hit this fresh as they're a band I've seen around but never had the pleasure of actually hearing.

Opening track 'Wash Away' burst from the speakers with blasting drums (by impressive new addition Rob Terry), guitars and plenty of intent. As an opening to any album, this feels good. Second track 'Nothing' has Bullet For My Valentine written all over it - think their 'Tears Don't Fall' track without the gruff vocals or slightly less metal : A compliment - it works. 'Looking Back' follows it up (a video for this one is being shot and will be available in the next few weeks) and it's a slower affair, still heavy but with a flow and melody that hints this could be what they do best. 'Breathe' lets the guitars have their say with some impressive fretwork and album closer 'The World Is Ending' is another slab of heavy.

Fifth track 'Chasing The Dragon' is the best track on here and occasionally sounds reminiscent of a song that could be on Axl N' Roses' 'Chinese Democracy' (again, a compliment) and here starts my problem with this album................ After the onslaught of the opening track, I was expecting an angrier, harder disc and yet now I'm getting hints of Porcupine Tree and My Chemical Romance? This isn't a bad thing, unexpected yes but just maybe a push in one direction rather than lay the carpet over three or four genres would bring greater rewards?

All four band members (Including Dave Roach - bass and Scotty 'Vegas' Hopkins - guitar ) can blatantly play and play well - that doesn't always make a great band or vision (see Velvet Revolver). They've been together more or less since 2004 and have supported a who's who of international bands but it seems like they've spent far too much time thinking about how it should sound rather than just being themselves. It comes to light that leading man Chris Lynch is the chief sound engineer at The Assembly in Leamington Spa and this makes sense as this sounds like the vision of a polished professional with a plan and a vision rather than some dude giving the horns full tilt without clarity which as we all know can sometimes bring rewards in itself.

The end product is a slightly non-flowing cd but I've listened to this five or six times and it's good enough for me to keep it on and convince myself, but I can't help feeling that the slower more melodic tracks are the one's that will get them noticed because they really are that bit classier.

The promo sheet says "Lost In Vegas produce material that is both enthralling, heavy and yet gripping" - I can't argue with that, I just hope they decide which they prefer?

These chaps know their stuff, can play and write a tune and live, I'm more than sure they can replicate the sound they've given us here. They're booking a UK tour as we speak, so get your Über Arses off the pub stool and check 'em out. Definitely worth a punt.

www.myspace.com/lostinvegasuk