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Debut full-length here from Australian newcomers Johnny Touch, who up to now have been dwelling in the underground dishing out splits and demos. They may have a strange name, but there's nothing odd about the music on display throughout Inner City Wolves, as this is a straight forward, old school metal affair with plenty of galloping bass lines, NWOBHM-style percussion, and reverb-drenched guitar solos. I spun this a great deal when I first got it, as it reminded me a lot of similar underground heroes Manilla Road, but repeated plays have revealed that despite the hooks in evidence on songs like "The Metal Embrace" and the epic "Black Company", there's not an awful lot of variation, making the whole thing run together.

The production is suitably low-fi, with a retro 80s vibe to it, and in vocalist Pahl Hodgson, they have a capable singer who knows his limitations and doesn't try to step outside of them, offering up some nice harmonies and the occasional scream, but it seems a little like style over substance at times, as there aren't many orgasmic moments to be had. Johnny Touch still get points for not falling into the retro trap set by bands like Enforcer and Skullfist, but Inner City Wolves certainly won't blow your speakers apart.