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It’s almost like thrash, grunge and nu metal never happened – firmly rooted in the 70s, Stone Machine’s third album showcases their vintage influences with genuine, unfussy pride.

Pick any of the 11 righteously rocking nuggets on offer here and you’ll find Foghat, Free, Zeppelin, ZZ Top and a whole heap of Lynyrd Skynyrd – the smouldering Mr Blues is, appropriately enough, dedicated to Ronnie Van Zant.

Sometimes simple and to-the-point is best and there’s nothing remotely pretentious or fancy about Southern Outlaw, Sugar Mama or Angels And Devils, just crunchy southern-fried riffs and Jason Mays’ tough-yet-soulful Paul Rodgers-style vocals – he even does sensitive on Lady Luck.

Rock Ain’t Dead should surely be the soundtrack to many a shot of bourbon./o:p

Whether it’s magazines, books or online, Essi has been writing about rock ’n’ metal for around thirty years. He has been reviews editor for Classic Rock and Metal Hammer, rock reviews editor for lads mag Front and worked for Kerrang!. He has also written the Rough Guide to Heavy Metal and contributed to the Rough Guide to Rock and Rough Guide Book of Playlists, and the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles (13th edition). Most fun interview? Tenacious D – Jack Black and Kyle Gass – for The Pick of Destiny movie book. An avid record/CD/tape collector, he’s amassed more music than he could ever possibly listen to, which annoys his wife no end.