Named after a character in The Sopranos (who mowed lawns and had his arm broken after being stuck in the middle of a dispute between Pauline Walnuts and Feech La Mana) Dublin band Sal Vitro having been doing the live circuit around Ireland with notable support slots to Thin Lizzy and Status Quo. In a long line of bands trying to break the UK, they recently upped sticks and relocated to London and have released their debut album ‘Cirque Du Sleaze’.

Look up Sal Vitro’s biography and it’ll say that they aim for a blues rock style of The Black Keys combined with the rock of Rivals Sons. If this is the intention, the reality is different and they miss their own target too much, lacking the edgy grittiness and dynamics of early blues garage rock The Black Keys and too polished to be considered similar to Rival Sons.

The Doomed Romance Of Tricky Tessa and Juicin’ Jeremiah’s faux blues funk just comes off as cringey and induces the sort of facial grimace brought on by the bitterest lemons. Line ‘Em Track aims for American delta blues authenticity but ends up feeling as real as Shia LaBeouf’s rapping. For You’s syrupiness is overpowering and if you think it is more Bon Jovi than The Black Keys it’s nothing compared to the mawkish Cirque Du Sleaze.

It’s all the more baffling when they stick to more straight up rock like The Getting’ Older Casanova where the arena size melodies with a dash of knowing humour. It’s the mark of a good time band doing what they do best and it’s frustrating knowing they are capable of that quality of song yet miss the target too frequently. It’s not a one off hit either. Swear By Your Love is played with the obvious gleefulness while The Party Hard Smoker suits Josh Dunford’s singing style which is easy to snare you for repeat listens.

‘Cirque Du Sleaze’ is an album with an inconsistent tone, of a band unsure exactly if they should go for stadium rock crowd pleasing tunes or delve into blues rock. It’s almost like it’s trying to be all things to all people and as a whole only partially succeeds.