NAMED after a Steve McQueen war film, Hell Is For Heroes sound like a thousand Nazi artillery shells exploding at once.

This pulsating debut takes the recent resurgence of riff-heavy rock to a new level. The west London five-piece are uncannily reminiscent of the excellent Hundred Reasons - maybe too much so. While certainly more powerful, their attempt to fuse noise and melody is less successful. Muscular riffs provide the backbone, while lead singer Justin Schlosberg rises above with phenomenal vocal power. Single You Drove Me To It is a quality rock anthem with a defiant cry of "They won't break me!". Night Vision and I Can Climb Mountains have already become live favourites. The record lacks a quieter, reflective track to provide a break from the thunderous din. Even the gentle first three minutes of Slow Song are transformed into a furious explosion of guitars and screams. Debuts don't come any noisier.

Updated: 09:40 Thursday, March 06, 2003