Borrowing liberally from oozin'-ahs and classic rock riffage rammed through a punk filter sound that probably reached its peak on The Empire Strikes First, Lucifer Star Machine is loud, unrefined and totally superficial.

Lucifer Star Machine The Devil's Breath (The Sign Records)

What a breath of fresh air.

There is not a shred of complexity to the music or the lyrics. This is just aggro rock and roll played loud and fast for maximum fun. This is the first full-length from the band since its 2014 reboot in Hamburg. I'm not particular familiar with earlier efforts, but this one brings big smiles.

Sometimes simple is best. There's very little subtext to these songs or the riffage behind them. Maybe it's the times. Maybe I'm getting old. Maybe I'm tired of a useless president. Doesn't matter, really. This album is a tonic, pure and simple.

Jon Worley