Metal Hammer - March 1997

Kerbdog have recorded what is quite possibly the greatest modern rock album since "Nevermind". As contentious as that may sound, there is no disputing the fact that "On The Turn" is a record of the highest quality, 12 18 caret gems that sparkle in the Britrock morass like the proverbial diamond in shit. The opening one-two of the singles "Sally" and "JJ's Song" are as good a demonstration of the new and improved 'Dog manifesto as you could ask for: discordant guitars battle furiously with the sort of aching melodies that a certain Kurt Cobain (messrs Mould and Hart before him) used to base his reputation on. From there on in, "On The Turn" scarcely misses a stride, effortlessly maintaining (and invariably exceeding) a standard that most bands struggle to hit once in their career. Aided by a full and crisp production, Kerbdog weave elements of DC hardcore's angular approach, Battle's melancholic fragility, the way West Coast's sunkissed rock n' roll and a whole heap of Irish blarney into a unfeasibly palatable gourmet delight. Musos will have a field day tracing the many different reference points scattered throughout the likes of "Lesser Shelf", the title track and "Rewind"; others will just revel in the sheer bloody brillance of "Secure", "Severed" and "Didn't Even Try". Call me an old fashioned idealist if you will, but I still think it's the songs that count. I know that in these ferociously mercenary times such thoughts are tantamount to heresy, but it would be nice if making a great album would guarantee a band some form of reward. As it happens, "On The Turn" is a fucking superb, pretty damn flawless album - Just don't let it go the way of Send No Flowers et al. Kerbdog deserve much better than that, and so do you.

Dan Silver