Album review: Alberta Cross - 'The Broken Side Of Time' (Ark Recordings)

Threatened by Courteeners fans, Peter Andre-loving ladies pounding at our door after a bitchy review, and the arrival of the new Mika record... NME has experienced all manner of terrifying stuff – so it takes a lot to make us jittery. But Alberta Cross scare the hell out of us. In a good way. This long-awaited debut album proper from the preacher-chic-touting fivesome is an intoxicating mix of apocalyptic riffs, sob-worthy singalongs and brooding blues. However, it’s the addition of vocalist Petter Ericson Stakee that really sets us a-quiver, his soaring Jim James-meets-Perry Farrell delivery tipping these 10 tracks into intense, dramatic and at times deranged territory. Have them sectioned or make them stars? Fuck it, do both.

Camilla Pia

Click here to get your copy of Alberta Cross' 'Broken Side Of Time' from the Rough Trade shop.

8 out of 10