The Violet May - TV (Oh! Inverted World)

Apart from being the brother of Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon, Chris McClure is the inebriated, cigarette-puffing cover star of Arctic Monkeys debut album, a point which must be addressed early on if only to dispel it from our brains and prevent this review from turning into a Wikipedia page. The Violet May are not like the Arctic Monkeys, they must not be compared to them and this is the last time you will hear the words 'arctic' or 'monkeys' in this review unless referring to the geographical region or the primate respectively.

After their captivating debut single 'Bright or Better', The Violet May followed up with 'TV', their second single and title track of their debut EP. Apart from being their breeziest effort, it's certainly the pick of the bunch, with its sombre vocals and epic climax built up of rumbling drums and shrieking guitars.

The start to the EP is a more ravenous one. 'Jennifer Lies' sees McClure's vocals desperately trying to keep up with the lighting pace drums and lead guitarist Jono How's piercing riffs, whilst 'Mother's Milk' is awash with stabby chords and the wailing backing vocals of rhythm guitarist John Kubicki.

Whilst there might not be much lyrical depth, this is good honest guitar music with no gimmicks or trickery. The most astounding thing about The Violet May is the energy that they harness, something that carries through into their rampageous live performances. Despite having made a decent record, this is a band that's made for the stage, a sweat-drenched, on top of the crowd sort of stage in particular.

The last two tracks 'Queen Teen' and 'What You Say' take the volume up a further notch. Their overriding influences shine through a haze of Queens of the Stone Age patented jerky riffs and distorted basslines. Despite being the most lyrically stark of their songs, they pulsate through your whole body, to the point where you forget what a lyric is. What is a lyric anyway? McClure may not know his way round a notepad nor have the best vocals in the world but he can put a mic stand through a chandelier at a gig.

If The Violet May keep going in the same vein they've started off and continue to produce ferocious guitar music, they could go places, they've already started making a reputation for themselves in their hometown. Still, they have a long way to go before they mirror the achievements of those other lads from Sheffield and who knows, the lady on the cover may even make an assault on the indie world in a few years time. Watch this space.