Since their debut (the State of Things) in 2007, Sheffield’s own Reverend and the Makers have built an important fan base and toured with some big hitters. 2014 sees the release of their fourth studio album Thirty Two which is the age of lead singer Jon McClure (we think he doesn’t look a day over 25).

Ever since their inception they have always had a ‘marmite’ vibe (you either love em’ or hate em’). Listen to this with an open mind and you’ll be rewarded with explosions of enjoyment, catchy choruses and hooks a plenty, almost along the same lines of Kylie’s can’t get you out of my head. The addition of the ‘Ska’ feel to a few of the tracks makes a great sound and a very worthy listen.

The new record is loud, interspersed with walls of sound that will sonically please any listener, the sound of a band enjoying what they do always shines through on a record and you can hear that RATM are having a ball here!

Detonator is the opener, complete with an 80’s sound, the synth firing on all cylinders. The Devil’s Radio enters the fray early on with the ska sound I mentioned earlier penetrating the record, a tinge of early 80’s Madness can be heard here, time to skank if you still feel up to it. Nostalgia is up next, another ode to good ska music with a great catchy “lalalala lalalala” sing along chorus, a cool, smooth vibe with a bright aura that brings a smile to the face.

To please the fans of the band, Reverend and the Makers is promoting the release by touring 32 different spots up and down the country, they’ll be visiting and playing acoustic gigs in fans front rooms, now there’s something you don’t see every day! Jon McClure was totally up for this alternative approach to getting the material out there, for this, I tip my hat to the man.

Thirty Two is an impressive album which embarks on a journey of different influences from ‘get up and skank’ music, to laid back numbers that allow you to chill and drool at the quality production on offer here. For me, Time is the stand out track, a mission impossible build up with a nod to The Stone Roses, allowing McClure to fire his words out to the stratosphere.

If you’re a fan of Reverend and the Makers then you certainly won’t be disappointed, there are a variety of styles on offer here, something to suit every palette, go forth and spread the word folks, RATM are back and they mean business!  

Download The Devil’s Radio, Nostalgia, Time

★★★★

Words by Mark Wincott