Ten years ago, when The Wildhearts released their last album Chutzpah, the very concept of their ‘classic’ line up (Ginger, CJ, Ritch and Danny – who recorded much of PHUQ and toured Earth Vs…) reforming was unimaginable. Now though, several solo and side projects and a slew of excellent live shows together later, that’s exactly what has happened as new single Dislocated (or the closest thing as we get to a single these days) heralds the upcoming release of new album Renaissance Men.

From the off what we have here marries elements that have made The Wildhearts’ sound, particularly from their last two albums the self-titled ‘white album’ and Chutzpah, as their structurally eccentric nature is combined with hooks and harmonies aplenty.

Added to this is a sound, based on the foundation of the returning Danny McCormack’s bass, that is some of the thickest and meatiest hard rock the band have ever produced, but with that pop punk element still cutting through nicely.

Lyrically we’re in reasonably familiar territory as Ginger once again stakes the band’s claim for being the outcasts among outcasts and alienation from society as a whole. If you know much of his past work this won’t come as a surprise but there’s a new grit in his voice that gives it a different vibe to the past.

As a warm up and preview of Renaissance Men then this is more than encouraging as the band’s recently rediscovered live fire seems to have translated onto ‘tape’ very nicely.

With a lot for old fans to enjoy there’s also a sense of continued development to The Wildhearts showing they aren’t ones to be resting on any laurels and, while they while might have been put on the scrap heap by the mainstream more than 20 years ago, rumours of their demise remain greatly exaggerated.