FATHERSON have enjoyed a steady but sure rise in stature since the release of their 2014 debut I Am An Island; embarking on support slots for the likes of Twin Atlantic and Biffy Clyro.

Now, they unleash their second studio album Open Book, hoping to push themselves further into the mix with alt-rock’s best and brightest.

‘Just Past The Point Of Breaking’ is a fantastic opener; bursting the record into life with all the qualities synonymous with a lead single. There’s no second guessing what’s in store on this album, as straight away you’re greeted with chorus-like guitar melodies and atmospheric vocals. The heavier side of the band shows no signs of letting up on ‘Always’ and ‘Lost Little Boys’; the drums a particular highlight offering a lot of rawness and energy in the opening tracks.

Open Book almost sounds like a live album in itself. The sheer power of the band that becomes apparent suggests there aren’t many stages they’d struggle to hold down. Far from alternative one-trick ponies, however, ‘Wondrous Heart‘ slows things down a little and introduces the band’s more poppy/R ‘n’ B sound, with the synth prominent for the first time on the record. Things slow down a touch further with ‘Joanna’; a gentler, romantic pine where the almost quivering lead vocals take the spotlight. It has been said that a great performance starts fast, slows down and ends with a bang. Apply the theory to Open Book and by the conclusion of ‘Younger Days’ you’ll likely feel halfway there. The album’s title track is a standout; where the varying sounds meet in the middle in an explosive call to action that appears to have single written all over it. ‘Forest’ and ‘Kids’ resume normal service somewhat before the rockier ‘Stop The Car’ takes things up a gear one last time. It all begins to fade out appropriately with ‘Chasing Ghosts’, before ‘Sleeping Over’ acts as a fittingly reflective finale: “What do we say when we leave? I’ve never really been good at these things.” On the contrary, this album holds Fatherson up as one of the best bands in Scotland. If they can come close to replicating the sound of this album onstage, live attendees are in for a belter.

Open Book is released on Friday 3rd June 2016. You can pre-order the album now.