Been a long, long time since we heard from Aberdeen's rock gods Hot Mangu, but here in 2008 is a brand new EP and I'm delighted to report that they sound as good as ever – different but good. On the basis of the title and opening track, the trio have lost none of their propensity for rocking good metal with a huge sounding bass thundering above driving drums, over which this sea of sizzling electric guitar riffing surges ahead, complete with sizzling lead breaks along the way. Vocally, there's a gruff sort of lead singer mixing angst with anger and coming across like a UK answer to Hetfield. The track itself also has an added groove running through its heart giving it an almost dramatic swagger, not funk or dance but something that gives it an extra edge. A stormer of a track that improves with each listen. “Diggin' A Hole” that follows, is pure deep, down and dirty heavy rock with scorching guitar riffing, pounding rhythms and vocals that range form whispered to roared, and as a slice of Classic driving metal, it's superb, again hints of Metallica but altogether more harmonious, sort of Metallica-meets-Kings X as much as anything and every bit as god as the comparison might suggest. The final track, “Dementia Tonic”, starts more sedately with chiming guitar ringing slowly before this loping bassline enters and an equally relaxed vocal combine above almost Beefheartian drums to provide the groove, only then for a sudden electric guitar surge to interrupt the swing, before it stops abruptly and the Faith No More-esque track jumps about. That the guitar re-enters and then explodes the whole thing into a more intense sea of driving funk-metal, is a testament to the new-found assuredness and maturity of composition that this band has got, mixing seventies with eighties metal to come up with something wholly fresh yet strangely familiar and utterly stunning. Can't wait for an album!!