Very often, when someone says that a band can't be categorised, it's because they are equally rubbish at every type of music they attempt to play. In the case of Animal Alpha, the words 'Dramatic,' 'Exotic,' and 'Metallic' have been waved in their direction, which means "help, I don't know what to call them." Thankfully, it's not all mince, and there is more than enough here to warrant further investigation.

For sure, there is a degree of "see me, I'm wacky me!," in places. But then you probably gathered that from the album title. Over in their native Norway, they're almost bona fide pop stars, what with a gold record for their debut EP and a Top 20 album with their first full length, Pheromones. But this is the first chance for non Norwegians to come to grips with their 'Dramatic', 'Exotic,' 'Metallic' sounds.

Despite appearing to be an exceptionally scary clown, turns out the singer is a lass called Agnete Kjølsrud, and she can let rip when she wants to. I wasn't surprised to learn that they have a reputation as an excellent live band as, at times, paint was being stripped from my walls as she howled her way through the album. The rest of the band are no slouches, and there is a panache to their music that is very appealing

They've been honing their sound on the club circuit as well as at Euro festivals like Wacken Open Air, Rock Am Ring, Pukkelpop, and Download, and they have a vim and vigor about them that overcomes some of the songwriting deficiencies on the lesser material. It was also a wise move to get Mike Hartung in to produce, as his time at the coalface with Enslaved and Satyricon, means he knows how to bring an in your face kaboom! to the table, something ably demonstrated on album highlights "Bundy" and "Tricky Threesome."

At their best, they're a fun, action packed rollercoaster ride of ideas, at their worst they turn into an even worse version of My Ruin. They are much better at goth tinged modern metal than they are at punk metal, although when they mix it up with a wee bit of glam, they almost pull it off. But at least they have attitude and personality in spades, something that is often lacking in so much modern music. A good MTV2 video could pull in the punters quite easily, and set them off on their way to, well, not quite the top, but snugly in the middle somewhere.