Whilst they’ll win precious few prizes for originality, in almost every other respect Collapse, the debut full-length from Italian crossover madmen Spoiled, garners top marks.

The production, for instance, is purely pukkah, allowing room for all the instruments to breath without jostling for space yet still mustering enough kill power to absolutely crush the wind out of any unsuspecting bystanders. True enough, this is pretty simplistic music, but it still benefits hugely from the fact that the listener can see (or, more accurately hear) where each sickening blow is coming from and who is delivering it. Huge props, then, to Stefano Morabito for his knob-twiddling prowess…

Talking of sickening blows, drummer Zibbo is a master; On one of the standout tracks, the pummelling Fratello d’Itallia, he gives a crossover drumming masterclass, hitting that sweet spot between d-beat simplicity and thrash precision with unerring accuracy. Vocalist Danny Boy comes from a purely hardcore standpoint – there are no warbling Belladonnaisms to be found here – and his sandpaper bellow complements the raw and unsophisticated axework of Pekkia to a ‘T’. And if you’re looking for Lilkeresque rumbling in the four string department, then Yari has you covered – have a listen to manic closing track A.S.P.O.S. id further truth is required…

Spoiled also get a few credits for amanging to sound like everyone but no-one across the course of the album’s fifteen tracks. Sure, there’s a whiff of S.O.D. here, a touch of D.R.I. there, and a sprinkling of Suicidal everywhere else, but it’s never enough to spoil the actual process of enjoying the album. Second track Beer Stealers is just pure, unfettered enjoyment in musical form, as is it’s follow up cousin Zombie Hunters; This isn’t music for the cerebral or furrowed of brow; It’s jump off the sofalike it’s a stage and scare the dogs silliness from start to finish and I know you’re gonna love it to death.

Collapse releases on February 27th.