Out of Australia via New York comes Secret Rituals, The Grates' third album. And it's a doozy.
Building on the success in recent years of electro-rock acts The Grates turn up the guitars and take things that little bit further into the realmsof indie rock.
With a sound that will appeal to fans of Metric, the band, now a duo, have also been compared to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Be Your Own Pet. There's a nostalgia element here too, with nods to Hole, the B52s and Pixies.
The energy doesn't let up throughout Secret Rituals, with the Distillers-style punk of Young Pricks one of many highlights, while opening track Turn Me On is a great showcase for Patience Hodgson's vulnerable vocals over John Patterson's indie-pop guitar stylings.
You'll want to play this album over and over. The Grates = great. - Kim Gillespie
