One way that bands try to get themselves noticed in their promotional material is to allude to the fact that they are like, or have tenuous connections with, other better known groups. In the case of Clusterhead these references include the likes of  Bonfire, Axel Rudi Pell and Pink Cream 69 , all of whose names leap out of their Press Release. Whether this is a good thing is ultimately somewhat of a moot point as, at the end of the day, the music has to stand by itself. Does it, in the case of Clusterhead? Well, yes and no. 

Times of No Trust certainly sounds very good indeed. The production is (meaty, beaty) big and bouncy and adds a luxurious sheen to a set of tunes that are somewhat up and down. Rather like the Grand Old Duke of York, when Clusterhead are up, as on say, Ghosts which would have possibly been a hit back in the day, they are most certainly up. However, and I think you know where I’m going with this, when they down as on The Human Factor, they are a bit yawnsome. 

On the plus side Times of No Trust certainly doesn’t chase trends and is hard-rocking to its core. Guitarist Frank Stadlbauer certainly knows his way around a fret board and has a very pleasant tone to his work.  If there is a draw back then it is in the lack of memorable melodies. 

Despite having had this CD in the car, the back room and on the I-Pod it's still a struggle to remember any of the songs when staring at the track listing by itself. Even the more immediate tracks such as Deep in the Night don’t stay in the old memory banks for long after one’s attention has turned elsewhere. All in all though Times of No Trust isn’t bad, its just not great.

Simon Bray