Oh, the naysayers: they’ll be stumped come The Thermals’ day in the sun. For all the negative reviews following in the wake of the Portland trio’s UK support slots with Wakefield indie brothers The Cribs, the retaliation that transpired post criticism was, to say the least, passionate: “a massively inaccurate description of The Thermals' music” said one disgruntled DiSser. Me, I wanted to agree, but it’s not like I was there.

‘A Pillar Of Salt’ is fuel for the fire: a blistering, boisterously brilliant indie-rock pop-swinging sing-along slice of geee-neee-arse, it’s a single sure to have the doubters questioning those first-time-out opinions. Sure, the three-piece might not always spark into life on stage, but this is evidence – like any was actually needed – that they’re a recorded force to be reckoned with. Last year’s The Body The Blood The Machine was given a slightly short shrift from this writer last year; I don’t like liking things. Sorry, everyone. Consider this release my ass-kicking.

It the most straightforward way possible, The Thermals rock their socks sweaty and stinking – nothing complex, there are no mathematics involved, and they’re not about to spawn any brand-new musical trends or sub-genres. Bothered. Salt’s essential for the human body retaining water – ironic, really, considering that three minutes in the company of this hyperactivity will have even the most retentive sort dehydrated like a sun-blasted sea sponge. Thy day is now!