Raspy, pierced-lipped and bourbon-stained - Brody Dalle's sneer is an unmistakable punk-rock weapon.
Used to great effect during stints fronting the Distillers and Spinnerette, Dalle's been out of action over the past few years due to the demands of having two kids with Josh Homme.
So it's no surprise to find her sounding just a little weary on her first solo album - it was recorded in her spare time after putting the kids to bed.
There are remnants of the Dalle of old on Don't Mess With Me, where she yelps, "You're the reason I can stay and fight you to the death".
But she's added sophisticated production to her fighting talk, like the bullying thud of Rat Race and the punkish trumpet sprawl of Underworld.
The shimmering stadium riffs of Dressed in Dreams and the electronic beats of Carry On show Dalle's not afraid to experiment, and she really nails it on the moody Marilyn Manson grind of Blood in Gutters.
The chorus? "Find your weakness, go on, kill it."
You'll be punching the air and piercing your lip like a punk-rock champion by the time it's over.
Brody Dalle, Diploid Love (Caroline/Universal)
Verdict: Sophisticated solo effort from punk-rock mainstay
- TimeOut