Feeder's Generation Freakshow is the eighth studio album from Welsh rockers

Feeder are back with a vengeance with their eighth studio album Generation Freakshow.

From their critically acclaimed debut Polythene in 1997, the Welsh rockers are proving that they've still got it in 2012.

Feeder's massive and loyal fanbase are familiar with the glories of Metal Hammer's top scoring Yesterday Went To Soon and the conceptual Comfort In Sound. If you're a fan of either of these albums, then you'll be in for a treat with Generation Freakshow.

Opening with Oh My, the track reeks of their early work with heavy Smashing Pumpkins inspired riffs. It rips through a classic Feeder sound that reminded me of Seven Days In The Sun punctuated with Grant doing his best David Bowie impression.

The second track Borders sounds like it has been inspired by their American modern contemporaries but not quite hitting the emo mark. The track asks Jessie if she's leaving, I'm hoping he's talking about Jessie J buggering off and leaving our lug­holes alone. Alas, it seems to be about a girl following her dream.

Idaho is more the Feeder that I know and love, heavy guitars that shred through anthemic nonsensical lyrics that don't mean anything to anyone. Thus is the beauty of Feeder, it means nothing but it makes you feel happy for no apparent reason. It's like the euphoria I feel when I lick my lips when I eat a doughnut. I don't know why, but it feels good.

Hey Johnny is a song that is clearly about Feeder's late drummer Jon Lee, who committed suicide in 2002. It is unlikely in the sense that it is no way a depressing slow tempo song, it soars while asking why Johnny had to go and talks about a feeling a misery, alienation and despair while leaving the people that care behind. The track again nods to classic Feeder that headlined festivals and arenas back in the day when Jon was still drumming for them. I listened to this and took is as a homage as oppose to a self­-pitying track.

If you're a fan of Feeder and their music, this album will not disappoint. It is the quintessential Feeder album that we would expect. Since Comfort In Sound, Feeder have failed to hit the mark and barely made ripples in music, ­not gaining any commercial or underground success. This album sees them back on form, producing the sort of music that first brought them to prominence. For me, this oozed nostalgia and took me to my happy place of watching them on main stage at Reading Festival as the sun was setting, singing Just A Day.

That was then and this is now but you can't help the feeling that they haven't moved on very much and perhaps listening to three blokes in their mid-­forties singing about a disillusioned youth isn't quite... well, cricket. It's not very believable and a little out of touch, but I can't imagine Feeder singing about anything else.

It's feel good music and that's that. Feeder don't sing about political issues or indulge in social commentary nor to they sing about baseless emotion. They sing about stuff, like drinking cider from a lemon and I'm convinced Grant is a budding meteorologist judging by the amount of times he mentions the weather in one form or another.

As a band, they are superb live. They are faultless in their performance and you can't help but jump along to every rip­roaring track with the sort of gumption you'd expect from Iggy Pop. Feeder are a good band and that is where your expectation should start and finish. They will never be pioneers or break records or make any sort of mark that would enter them into the hall of fame, but for ten tracks you'll feel alive.

First published 30/04/2012