Reviewed by Haydon Spenceley

There seems to be a trend for hidden identity bands at the moment. First, Solid State did it with the excellent Demon Hunter, and now we have Neon Horse. Debate has raged about the identity of the band's members, with popular votes going to Mark Salomon of Stavesacre fame and Starflyer 59 stalwart Jason Martin amongst others. But what matters most of course is the quality of music here, and from the opening strains of "Cuckoo!" to the last chords of closer "Merciless Mother", we're treated to a tour de force in danceable indie rock. This of course is a good job, as marketing gimmicks such as this only work if they are backed up by albums of substance, and in 'Neon Horse' that is exactly what Tooth & Nail provide. This is primed and ready for mass consumption, with digestible lyrics, massive hooks and more groove than you can shake a stick at. Any spiritual themes in the lyrics are pretty well concealed, but that is by no means to the album's detriment. The record is all about the groove, putting the fun back into modern rock, with standout tracks including "Speed Killz" and the outrageously funky "Kick Yer Askin' For It" to the fore. This is a fine slab of thoroughly intriguing rock 'n' roll which anyone with an ear for edgy rock should check out.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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