Over the past couple of years, the future of good old fashioned guitar music has been shrouded in disagreement and uncertainty. Most new bands are quite naturally choosing to embrace electronic music, and the few that don’t run the risk of being labelled regressive or as flogging a horse that’s ready for the knacker’s yard. A band that defiantly stays loyal to rock‘n’roll tradition can bring the debate to a crisis moment, and from the evidence of ‘Kids Go Crazy’, The Reeds seem the perfect candidates to be that band.

From the opening riff, a bluesy pentatonic number that rolls through most of the song, we know we have entered the realms of classic rock. The music is perhaps most reminiscent of early 1970s bands like Led Zeppelin and the lighter side of Black Sabbath. You half expect a Spandex-restricted squeal to come at any minute, but the vocals are a pleasant surprise. A convincing performance from the singer pulls the song into (slightly) different directions; his voice has the self assurance of Marc Bolan, and at times the snarl of a young Liam Gallagher. Okay, so perhaps hints of glam rock and Britpop don’t completely save the sound from being a tad generic, but nonetheless, it’s good to see that the band embrace all the facets of the classic rock they play.

Nobody can argue that the best music of the old guard is still exceedingly popular. Bands like AC/DC and Queen, for example, still sell out stadiums today, and even Status Quo get the odd booking here and there. This suggests that what really matters is whether the style is executed effectively. ‘Kids Go Crazy’ is rescued from the doldrums of pub-rock mediocrity by some highly competent musicianship. There are infectious guitar licks throughout, and later in the song a couple of rip-roaring solos, held in place by a disciplined rhythm section.

Within the lyrics we’re given the familiar theme of teenage rebellion. A slice of adolescent non-conformity has always been welcome in rock‘n’roll, but here it still seems fresh and uplifting. There’s no room for pretension or any self-indulgent pondering, making it the perfect partner to a cider-swilling, fist-pumping house party. It’s the kind of rousing track that could translate effortlessly into an anthem on a sweaty club night.

So, although The Reeds probably won’t be winning too many prizes for their originality, there is certainly something endearing about ‘Kids Go Crazy’. The band uses a tried and tested set of techniques, yet they prove that these can still create something that breathes life into the old horse – rock‘n’roll.