Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

It's been nearly 10 years that this Scottish band have been recording independently released CDs and this is their fourth outing. As with all indie releases the band battles against the restrictions of a very tight budget and on 'Heart Shaped Hole' they triumph. Best described as roots rock, what they lack in studio time they have overcome by creating music with plenty of vibe. Songwriter Peter Semple manages to create songs that hit the gut and uplift the heart simultaneously. A good example is my fave song on the EP, "A Pleasant Passing" which builds nicely into a catchy chorus. With the upsurge of Scottish bands in both the mainstream and Christian circles, there seems to be something about music made north of the border which manages to capture plenty of emotion and the Honey Thieves have definitely done that. Some rootsy Scottish soul anybody? Generally recorded live, the band's energy has been well captured on tape and 'Heart Shaped Hole' is a winner. Oh yeah, and don't forget to check out the hidden track "God Bless America"- very different!

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