A is about as enigmatic a name you can choose for a band, so newcomers might be a bit disappinted by the reality, which is five grim-faced rockers from Suffolk who play heavy metal with a radio-friendly pop sheen. Nothing very original, then, but their new album might just contain enough brutally effective punk tunes and infectious choruses to see them finally gain that long-coveted foothold in the charts. A have an awful lot in common with American upstarts Linkin Park and their lyrics (full of references to subways, homies and Californian beaches) suggest that their natural audience may well lie across the Atlantic. What they really lack is a distinctive character of their own - but while they're not the sort of band destined to change anyone's life, A have a steely sense of conviction about them that's hard not to admire, and could yet see them transformed into serious players

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