Irish rockers Trucker Diablo are back and, it has to be said, in pretty good shape.

My big gripe about this band in the past has been that a sort of miasma of syrupy, feelgood gormlessness sometimes seemed to swamp their songs, especially the singles they put out. A little of that still hangs around, especially on single Rock Kids of the 80s, but the good news is that the band has significantly upped the heaviness ante on this new record; the title track and Insects both pack a nicely controlled punch, so that the band sound like a more cheerful version of The Almighty rather than coming off like they are trying to be everyone’s best mate down the pub…

The uplifting I Am Still Alive is a top notch Celtic rocker, bringing to mind Big Country at their chirpiest, but again the good cheer is underwritten by a guitar sound that screams ‘we mean business!’, which is really nice to hear. When the band chug, it really sounds like they mean it…

Opening track BTKOR adds a nice line of continuity for long term fans of the band with it’s exhortations to drink beer and destroy, and once more the bonhomie is tempered with a darker side – probably born out of the barrel load of tripe we all had to put up with in 2020 – which, to these tired old ears at least, gives the whole shebang a bit more authenticity, for want of a better word. Trucker Diablo v.2021 is definitely a heavier, dirtier beast!

Good news then, if you like your pop rock on the meatier side, but if you are a fan from way back you’ll be pleased to know that the lads haven’t thrown the baby out with the bathwater. The hallmarks that made you love the band in the first place, most notably Tom Harte’s heartfelt vocal style, are still here, more or less, but there’s just the right amount of development to draw in old cynics like me too. It’s a win-win situation!

Tail End of a Hurricane releases on May 7th.