The Hedrons announced their return with a bang playing an energised set in SWG3 towards the end of last year to mark the re-release (& for the first time on vinyl) of their debut album, One More Won’t Kill Us on Past Night from Glasgow, with the promise of more to come. A few months later they teased us with the hotly anticipated rollicking rollercoaster that was their killer single Heartache, now the long awaited follow up to that impressive debut, Tired of Taking, is finally available on your chosen digital platform for your aural delectation. For sure this album proves the title of that debut, one more won’t kill them, damn right, it’ll only make them stronger.
It may have been a 16 year wait since that raucous debut, but it gives me an immense amount of pleasure to say that the intervening years haven’t dulled their fervour, doused their flame or sullied their sparkle. The ten outstanding tracks across Tired of Taking have the quartet picking up from where they left off, strapping on their guitars, settling into that drum stool and picking up their mics and in doing so creating an album with as much attitude, passion, vim and vigour as it’s pre-cursor. As Tippi sings on the high octane foot-to-the-floor searing punk title track, “we’ve got no apologies to make, we’ve got no promises to break.” That old Scottish phrase comes to mind, if you don’t like it, you can lump it. I don’t like it, I love it! The band remain in unapologetic mood a couple of tracks later on the upbeat, bouncing rhythm and Johnny Thunders-esque guitar lines of Regrets, “there’s no point in regrets, you should try to forget,” the benefit of having a 16 year hiatus between albums perhaps, a bit older, a bit wiser, but with no less intense passion and excitement. And as animated as ever, as I listen to these songs I can even picture Soup’s grinning face as she knocks several shades of shite out of the skins.
The Hedrons have carefully honed their sound, taking the best bits of the 70’s from glam rock to punk, mixing it with classic rock riffs, different elements coming to the fore on different songs, but in doing so carefully crafting and honing a sound that is clearly The Hedrons, sounding fresh and invigorating and giving off an energetic vivacity and ire when the songs require it, take Beauty Queen as an example, an astute commentary highlighting the treatment of women in this patriarchal society and the toll that takes but retaining the ability to take the foot off the accelerator and reveal a vulnerable side on songs like Human.
The album is booked-ended by two of the album’s (many) outstanding tracks. What better a way to open proceedings than with the immense foot stomper, Give Me A Chance, packing a punch with its nonchalant glam rock swagger and pounding rhythm, Soup (aka Lesley) on drums and Gill on bass bringing the thunder as the band proclaim their return loud and proud, with Rosie serving up some searing riffs. While at the other end of the album we are treated to the full throttle assault on the senses, Give You Everything, its confident driving rhythm covering an element of reticence in Tippi’s lyrics over letting down the guards when it comes to affairs of the heart.
Yes, I know its an old cliche, but in the case of Tired of Taking, the wait really was worth it, and if , like me, you are itching to hear these songs played live, then grab yourself a ticket for the vinyl launch in Glasgow’s Room 2 on 23rd of February, it’ll be a blast. See you down the front.