Hailing from Kidderminster, Metal 2 The Masses finalists Rustlung have just dropped their bruising debut album 'Rage Quit' - a confident, if somewhat predictable debut.
'Black Eye' sets up the album with a straight forward and aggressive approach, sludgy boozy riffing ripe for headbanging that continues right into '10,000 Degrees'. You get the impression this would crush live, but you have certainly heard all the mid-paced chugging and gravelly roars before, even when the gears drop for the hazy 'Home Grown'. It's the fifth song 'Shit Eating Grin' that things pick up out of the ordinary and wakes the listener up into the albums more interesting second half. 'Would You Like To Know More' closes with samples whirling in the mix over the crushing riffs, and the mood drops into the more serious for 'Amendment/Never Wake Up', providing some welcome juxtaposition in an album that began so one-note. 'Heads Will Roll' brings the party back with some irresistibly fun riffing and flows neatly into 'Punch Drunk' which sounds like it would close their live show in great spirits and the grumpy sweary voicemail message from a band members dad provides a chuckle as introduces the albums inspired closer 'The Strays'.
Rustlung don't mess with a tried and tested recipe on this debut but risk sounding one dimensional, 'Rage Quit' often doesn't do enough to differentiate the band from their peers. That said, there's enough honest conviction on display here that will see the band going strong in their future live shows.
7/10 - Michael Randall