Album Review: The Rubens - Hoops

After two years on the road, the Menangle five-piece have bottled their boozy late nights and one-night stand tales into a soul-sodden rock album.

Crammed with gritty guitars, foot-stomping rhythms and Sam Margin's signature bluesy vocals that ooze country town swag, The Rubens have pulled off an epic round two of rock'n'roll tunes.

Reuniting with producer David Kahne (The Strokes, Paul McCartney), they wanted to infuse their latest record with their boisterous live sound. Steering away from their washy love letter grooves, Hoops sounds more like five mates belting out ripper tunes at their local stomping grounds. Putting dirt under your fingernails, sweat on every inch of your body and grease down your ripped jeans, it stomps to a bigger and bolder rock sound.

Doused in filth, lead single Hallelujah is a massive rock anthem heaving with bluesy licks and ragged-edged vocals that'll have you hooked from the get-go. Rinsed with a shot of whiskey, the belter swishes around with ample drum thrashing. Throwbacks to their late-night benders, The Night Is On My Side and Hold Me Back are guitar-laden tunes overflowing with gutsy growls that'll have you swaying until the whiskey runs dry.

Stepping up the soul, Hoops, Switchblade and Bitter End reminiscence about love's woes. Smothered in roots-influenced rockabilly and Margin's impassioned croon, these are downright drown-your-sorrows-at-a-lonely-bar tunes. Full of rock belters and woozy nuggets, The Rubens' second album won't disappoint.