With an encouraging recent trend in British heavy rock being that of the psychedelic – glancing retrospectively at the Led Zeps and The Whos of the olde worlde – Amplifier have returned, giving their take on the scene with The Astronaut Dismantles HAL. Providing almost forty minutes of their trademark, heavily distorted space-grunge this mini-album is not merely a taster to appease the waiting masses.

Once heralded for the crown of the British rock, as so many are, the Manchester-based band are now signed to fine German label, SPV which is also home to Raging Speedhorn and Motorhead among others. This decidedly interplanetary influenced release will pull you into a parallel universe with the dangerously complex beats found in ‘Into The Space Age’ and Sel Balamir’s smooth vocals won’t help shed any comparisons to Tool. The atmospheric nature of much of the album lends to comfortable listening, yet the intricacy of orchestration found here lends to the unnerving feeling of unfamiliarity upon each listen.

Amplifier is a band still largely unknown to the British public despite consistently receiving critical acclaim. Similar to their friends and musical neighbours, Oceansize, Amplifier’s songs are not quite tailored for the radio. It’s a shame.