8/10

There is definitely something happening in Dublin right now. We aren't sure what it is but every single band we hear coming from the Irish capital right now seems to have this air of groundbreaking originality about it, and this goes two-fold for newcomers Silverbacks. While clearly the children of acts such as Pavement and LCD Soundsystem, the group have managed to create a huge stir with their initial offerings of late and now look to make some serious noise as they deliver their highly-anticipated debut album 'Fad', a record that feels more forward-thinking than it has any right to be.

There is obviously something self-referential going on here as well. By calling the album 'Fad', they are almost acknowledging the fickle appreciation that many will have for their sound initially. Blending a diverse mix of art-rock, post-punk and early 90s indie experimentation, their debut album looks to have this distinct yet familiar direction to it. Much like what Bodega looked to do on their first full-length 'Endless Scroll', they have borrowed heavily from so many different avenues, they have almost stumbled on a completely unique concept, something they look to push throughout their new release.

Fans of bands like Art Brut or Maximo Park will obviously find plenty to enjoy on this new collection, but 'Fad' feels a little more timeless than the outfit are giving it credit for. What it does, it does well, and never really feels like it is running out of steam at any point. In all, they have set a high bar for themselves here and will probably find themselves with a strong cult following in the months to follow.