Those familiar with the catalogue built by the good folks of Tee Pee Records will be aware that, in their little corner of Astoria, New York, the sun has not yet set on 1968.

This new Atomic Bitchwax album further develops the label’s reputation for rocking hard with a retro outlook. TAB-4 was released here in June, and the only reason we didn’t review it earlier is that those of us in the ltd office for whom hair and tattoos have a cultural currency have been too busy playing the damn thing.

This is killer stuff: melodic riffing, close vocal harmonies, duelling guitars, euphoric, uplifting choruses that bring to mind Grand Funk Railroad, Boston and early Rush without actually sounding much like any of those bands.

Each of these eleven short songs is an immaculately crafted dollop of tune-smithery delivered with power, virtuosity and the hint of a knowing smile. The Bitchwax may trace their spiritual roots back to the late 60s, but the Noo Joisey trio might have produced as good a hard rock album as we hear all year.

Richard Hodkinson