Although they never enjoyed the sales figures achieved by their Canadian colleagues, King’s X have, like Rush, been one of the true constants in rock music over the past two decades.

Since their debut release, ‘Out of the Silent Planet’, (1988) the three Texans have held the bar for good quality, warm and intelligent rock music high – in spite of the fact that they have not never been appreciated by the multitudes quite in the way that some of us thought they should.

No matter the injustices of the music business, the trio can look back upon a string of fine releases – and ‘XV’ is just another pearl to be added to that string.

‘Ogre Tones’, King’s X’s last offering was a departure from the ‘real’ King’s X sound. It sounded modern in a different way, more hit-oriented. This is not the case with ‘XV’ where messrs. Pinnick, Tabor & Gaskill come closer to their original warm and thick sound that was part of making them so special when they first emerged on the scene.

What is a bit different is e.g. songs like Repeating Myself and Julie, both Beatles inspired, quiet rock songs, where Ty Tabor and Jerry Gaskill have taken over the vocal duties from Dough Pinnick.

And is it me, or is Gaskill’s focus on this album simpler but groovier drumming? I think so. Nothing fancy, just clean, solid hammering for the more rocking tunes, nicely illustrated with songs like Rocket Ship, Alright, Move as well as the bluesy Broke.

On the whole, there’s a nice balance between straight-ahead rock songs and the more sensitive material that King’s X also master so well.

The one track that stands out on the release is the bonus track Love and Rockets (Hell’s Screaming). It is markedly darker in expression than the remainder of the album, and I love it! It goes right in with yours truly, simple and dark as it is.

If nothing else, then do me the favour of at least listening to this track!

Buy by the millions.