It's yet another packed out show at The Borderline, and tonight we're all rammed in like sardines to join teenage rock sensations The Treatment in the celebrations for the release of their debut album for Spinefarm Records, 'This Might Hurt'.  Tonight, the band is certainly on a high as the album had only been officially released the day before, plus this was their first London headline show, and not even an appalling display of service from good ole London Transport was going to keep me away (apologies though to tonight's support bands as I did miss both of you as a result).

When I did manage to finally get through the door and down the stairs to the Borderline's smoking hot main room it became immediately obvious to me that this is a band with real potential, as their fans come from all ends of the age spectrum, that's for sure. I guess this is in part due to the fact that that band take one part old school classic rock, add another part traditional British metal, and finish off with a healthy slice of glammy sleaze, and that folks is the perfect prescription for your rock 'n roll Treatment. When it comes to the songs themselves the riffs and hooks are impressively good, and on the whole they are well written, memorable and catchy, and the band themselves have a sickeningly good looking charm as well. They've also clearly got a dedicated younger fan base who pack the area at the stage front tonight (we older ones clinging to the bar happy to absorb the youthful exuberance), as they clap and cheer every movement and certainly seem to know the words to most of the album already (I'm guessing they may have picked up a copy pf 'This is Gonna Hurt' when it originally appeared via Powerage Records so that going to help on the lyric front I guess).

High octane metallic rockers like the belting 'Drink, Fuck, Fight', 'Shake the Mountain' and 'The Doctor' actually brought a youthful Def Leppard to mind, whilst the anthemic 'Just Tell Me Why' has a bit of a Black Crowes vibe going on, and 'Killer' is a grooving old school metal stomper. 'Nothing To Lose But Our Minds' is another anthemic moment that goes down a treat with the younger members of the audience, whilst us older members of the audience were acknowledging the fact that it bears a remarkable similarity to "ahem" Mott The Hoople's 'All The Young Dudes'! 

With the band being managed by Laurie Mansworth (the powerhouse ex manager of Heaven's Basement, who's son also just happens to play drums for The Treatment), there's not one but two songs from his early eighties band More's rather fine 'Warhead' album in the set tonight in the shape of 'Road Rocket' and set closer 'Way Of The World'. There's also a rather unusual but inspired choice of cover for the encore as The Treatment wheel out one of Dr.Feelgood's finest moments with 'She Does It Right' to end the night on a high.

Full of confidence, and armed with a decent set of songs, the Treatment most certainly could have a very bright future ahead of them.

Photo Kudos Ben O'Luckely