Emanating from the Forest of Dean Red Hot Riot are, I think, best described as a neo-rockabilly band for the 2020s. Consisting of Ricky Delaney on guitar and vocals, Scott MacParland on double bass and Dan West on drums for this recording, this three-piece really kick arse ‘Devil’s Curse’ is the band’s third album. From start to finish it is an absolute joy. Indeed, just two months into 2026, I confidently declare that this is my album of the year.

1. ‘Tiger Stripes’ starts with Train Beat drums, plenty of woah, ohs and some quite mesmerising guitar work. This song has got it all, it’s a Red Hot Riot classic.
2. ’99 per cent Good Woman’ begins with Duane Eddy-style guitar. Pounding drums on the floor tom and the ride cymbal. Ricky’s in fine voice, there is some unexpected chord progression that takes this song beyond the standard twelve bar pattern, also another killer guitar solo.
3. ‘Devil’s Curse’ plenty of ‘oh oh ohs’ with a tremendous groove and a very understated but appropriate solo.
4. ‘Up Jumped the Devil’, the Ronnie Dawson number that has been in the band’s live set for quite a while gets the studio treatment. The song benefits from Scott’s rock-solid bass playing.
5. ‘Screw That’. This is terrific neo-rockabilly with guitar pyrotechnics and a very effective break-down section.
6. ‘As We Grow Old’ sounds a little like ‘Sleepwalk’ and is a rather touching ballad that even features strings and a superb vocal performance from Ricky.
7. ‘Don’t Be Lazin’ is great rockabilly with delightful picking. Wonderful stuff.
8. ‘Seven Nights To Rock’ another live favourite that receives studio treatment. It features some excellent drumming alongside the tremendous fretwork of Mr Delaney. I really hope that this band gets the best possible publicity because they are the business!
9. ‘Lil’ Shit’ begins as a very slow blues number before an up-tempo rockabilly section before repeating the pattern, you can tell by the little laugh at the end that the band enjoyed themselves in the studio and why not when they are capable of producing gems of this ilk.
10. ‘Crocodile Tears’ Begins with a very Brian Setzer-esque guitar indeed, the song would make good company on any Brian Setzer album, this is masterful stuff.
11. ‘Mystery To Me’ is neo-rockabilly at its best: splendid guitar work, excellent vocals, and a good few ‘oh,ohs’ thrown in for good measure’
12. ‘Teddy Boy Rock n’ Roller’ a country flavoured ballad that pushes Ricky’s voice to the limit with some delightful guitar work.

All in all this is little short of a masterpiece, I doubt very much that this album will be eclipsed this year. The songwriting, guitar playing and vocal performance of Ricky Delaney really are a joy to behold. Ricky has catapulted himself into Ray Waters category with this album. It is the band’s third lp and also their best. It is splendidly varied, but is all killer stuff – I absolutely love it.

Nick Kemp