As Tiger Army albums tend to come along only every once in a while an EP from the band two years after their last full album, V…, is always going to be something for fans to celebrate.

With that in mind the band held a pair of special shows, their only planned live appearances this year, to mark the release of the Dark Paradise EP.

The EP itself comprises two covers and one brand new original track very much continuing the same sonic and aesthetic themes established on V…

While I’m not especially familiar with the Lana Del Ray original, the title track here brings us right back into that darkly hued, southern Californian, night-time vibe of the previous album, combining Tiger Army’s ever increasing mid-20th century style provided by the classic rockabilly line up, with the sharpness of modern production.

Original instrumental Enchantment continues this stylish combination with Nick 13 bringing a hint of surf as the track goes on with his vintage Gretsch guitar and Fender amp combination sounding about as authentic as your going get 50 years on from the original surf music craze.

The trio of tracks are rounded off by Tiger Army going fully surf for the first time with their take on The Chantays 1962 track Pipeline.

Again the band bring their own darker tones to this but if Dark Paradise and Enchantment are night-time songs there’s no escaping that Pipeline is vibrant and alive day time tune in a way very different to that which these psychobilly vampires have previously evoked.

With this the EP feels like Tiger Army have laid down a lesson for everyone looking for retro rock ’n’ roll stylings in the modern era, while firmly stepping beyond their own psychobilly origins without excluding its essence, all making for another great release and whetting appetites for what might be to come next.