London's Zico Chain have caused quite a stir of late with the release of their debut album 'Food'. Touted by some as saviours of the Brit Rock scene, their sound is a patchwork of diverse influences, encompassing everything from grunge to classic metal to 80s alternative rock. However, far from lacking their own sense of direction, Zico Chain have managed to deliver eleven succinct tracks of unrelenting intensity.

Opener 'Pretty Pictures' establishes the rock-solid Metallica-tinged foundations on which much of their material is built, while simultaneously showcasing the ways in which the band branch out from this with irregular tempos, raucous Nirvana-style feedback, and some good old-fashioned searing hard rock guitar licks. Single 'Where Would You Rather Be' builds on this array of techniques, with jerky QOTSA-style stoner rock riffage and gruff, aggressive vocals, courtesy of Chris Glithero. Despite the track's stripped-down grungy rawness, there is a definite nod towards darker Goth influences, resulting in an outcome that's somewhere between Marilyn Manson and Mudhoney.

The album's title track is in many ways reflective of the album as a whole; a straightforward, ferocious two-and-a-half-minute rocker that doesn't let up from start to finish. Similarly, songs like 'Roll Over' and 'Preach' power through with the stripped-down garage rock discipline of the White Stripes, largely thanks to drummer Ollie Middleton. The latter number sounds a bit like the Foo Fighters crossed with Motorhead, with Paul Frost's distinctive guitar twists throwing further fuel on the fire.

The tunes on the album are not always particularly strong in themselves; on 'No Hoper Boy', for example, it's the crisp, irregular guitar style that renders it memorable, rather than the melody itself. That said, there are more strong tracks than weak ones, and a handful, including 'Junk' with its frantic verses and slower, catchy chorus, stand out as potential hits. The lyrics might not be particularly inspired, but when the music rocks this hard, that's hardly cause for complaint.

'All Eyes On Me' is the most notable departure from the rest of the album, with slower, more melodic post-hardcore leanings not dissimilar to Hundred Reasons. The sweeping sing-along quality and vocal harmonies are a far cry from the darker, scuzzier vibe of the rest of the record. 'Anemia' brings the album to a dramatic close on more familiar territory, with the spirit of Kurt Cobain well and truly alive in the final few bars of Glithero's raw, impassioned vocals. Though their debt to their metal and grunge forefathers is undoubtedly immense, Zico Chain's ability to fuse such influences with more transgressive rhythmic stylings, whilst remaining consistently fresh-sounding and focused, proves them well worthy of the attention they have already started to attract.