Strange Days by The Struts: The Ultimate Antidote to These Troubling Times

If you haven’t yet heard of Derby glam-rockers The Struts then you are definitely missing out.

Best described as the true inheritors of that classic, no-nonsense, head-banging, foot-stomping, glam-metal sound of the 70’s and 80’s, they are truly a sight to behold. Frontman Luke Spiller delivers killer choruses, mixing the powerful, raw voice of AC/DC’s Brian Johnson with the sly, candid delivery of Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos, as Adam Slack shreds classic riffs backed up by Jed Elliot's solid basslines and Gethin Davies hammering on the drums. They are known for having an energy and drive to their music that has brought them a great many fans and 2 successful studio albums.

The Struts latest album 'Strange Days,' continues that success. Entirely crafted during lockdown, it was written and recorded in a mere 10 days, (a day for each track) and it's a step away from the band’s previous material, produced by established pop producer Jon Levine and mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer, who previously worked with such modern legends as Arctic Monkeys, Panic at the Disco and Johnny Marr. For those that are expecting something like their moodier previous albums these additions may seem a little left-of-field. But that’s not to say that's a bad thing. 

Even if the title track ‘Strange Days’ may have been lacking praise from some critics, for me at least it drifted not too often into some of the standout moments of the powerful piano ballads in Keane’s Hopes and Fears album, only to finish with a bombastic Queen-Style chorus, even if it doesn’t necessarily climb to the heights of the album’s other tracks . 

Where the album really shines is tracks like All Dressed Up (with nowhere to go) the album's definite stand-out, with its rowdy AC/DC style guitar hook and a signature killer chorus that echoes the sly charm of The Vaccines hit ‘Wetsuit,’ creating a heady musical cocktail that will have you dancing before it’s over. 

Even I hate How Much I Want You is a sure-fire hit, turning a song about missing the one you love into a bold 'The Sweet'-style festival anthem with thundering drums, fuzzed-out guitar and a chorus that makes you want to sing it at the top of your voice.

An even greater contrast comes with the album track ’Burn It Down’, a song that channels soulful, honky-tonk piano rock, with melodic grand piano skating over some solid, bluesy guitar lines.  

Even the album's final track has an ace up it's sleeve. ‘Am I Talking to the Champagne (or Talking to You)’ deftly slides from classic heavy-metal sound of the previous 9 tracks to soul-infused blues-rock, complete with extended Sax solo, proving that The Struts are very comfortable with taking themselves out of their comfort-zone. 

In true ‘The Struts’ fashion this is also a record full of surprise guests. 

From Robbie Williams featuring on the title track, to guest appearances from Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and Phil Collen along with The Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. and even Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello joining the noise it's a testament to the band that even in 10 days they have been able to pull out all of the stops and produce something that is one of the best albums of the year, period. 

Be thankful then that if these 'Strange Days' continue that we will at least have The Struts to perfectly soundtrack them.