Of all the goth bands that did anything in the 80’s, the March Violets were the ones who defied the stereotype of being dour and humourless for overblown reasons. Always up for a laugh, they weren’t ones for hanging their heads low in despair but looking up in joy and good spirits. And like a lot of bands from the 80’s, they’ve reformed and are back recording. And their latest single proves they haven’t been wasting their time in the studio.

“Road of Bones” feels like the EP’s limbering up with some stretching exercises ready for the big push. Or at least I hope so, as it feels rather lacklustre until it swings into the chorus, which it tries to put off for as long as it can. But once we get there, we’re into the good stuff. “London’s Drowning” sees a proper return to form for the band, with the group’s old sound gristled with jagged guitars. Definitely one for the dancefloor and I bet it would go down well played live as well.

“Dandelion King” sounds a touch classic rock as it wanders and wonders about the future. A real rock gem. “A Little Punk Thing” sets the drumming down hard and heavy while the guitar strums away. “We Are All Gods II” turns down a more experimental 80’s synth route with contemplative vocals and a baseline that resembles the teeth of cogs in motion. All filled out by sweeping, curving guitar. Absolutely superb, and one that should be on a good Sci-Fi film soundtrack.

New releases by bands that made their name in a previous decade more often then not aren’t as good as the stuff they released during the heyday. But the Violets prove to be the exception to the rule, as there’s plenty here that rivals their old EP collection The Botanic Verses. Any tradgoth that’s active in the scene as it stands today who doesn’t go out and buy a copy of this really should ask themselves why they are still involved in the scene. You have no excuse not to get it.