Catchy rock for the masses is surfaced here on ‘Sundiver’, the fifth album from Boston Manor sporting the same name as an old conceptual Sci-Fi novel. Ahead of seeing them at Project House next week, I couldn’t help but dip into what they’ve delivered to us.

A mysterious, eerie tone starts the record on ‘Datura (Dawn)’, a daybreak-style intro that’s quickly followed by the building punchiness of ‘Container’. The latter’s ideal for cardio thanks to its turbocharged pace, so I’ve been rinsing it regularly. Then they’re all about showboating the pre-album singles. ‘Sliding Doors’ is first up, offering metal-tinged, shred-first appeal for the heavy rockers, before the yearning, anthemic hooks of ‘HEAT ME UP’. These smack so much of OG Boston Manor, back when ‘Liquid’ and ‘Halo’ were their among their most popular ventures. This bunch could never be accused of not scooping up old fans as well as the new.

‘Horses In A Dream’ marks the end of what I’d dub the first half of ‘Sundiver’ — AKA where all the waterfalled singles come the never-before-exposed material. An amuse-bouche transition filters from the already heard to the brand-new on slightly techno-ish, trip-hop ‘Morning Star’. 

Where things get nice and scuzzy — and favourites territory is traversed — is on ‘Why I Sleep’ and ‘Fornix’, as their electronic arsenal raises their instrumental game even further. You’re bound to be all ears for the drums and bass on the angsty, crunching ‘Dissolve’, too. For me, they’re showing off their rhythm section here on this particularly catchy serve, which boasts more experimental tendencies, too. Slightly spooky piano keys fade it out for added coolness. 

As Boston Manor draw proceedings to a close, strings are picked with purpose on ‘What Is Taken, Will Never Be Lost’, a harsher, less gentle though yet certainly reflective, piece. It’s perhaps not as immersive, but its simple opening actually creates intrigue in a different way, before ‘DC Mini’ enlists Heriot to tie the lot up. 

It’s a feisty, fun album to play, making it far easier to give a blow-by-blow review of why it’s worth a listen. So go on — add it to your rotation. 

If you only download one track, let it be: ‘Why I Sleep’