For someone who has been frequenting the West Midlands Gig Scene for over 20 years, the fact that I had not previously crossed paths with Cannock-centred Questions Of Angels left me at a loss.
The gritty grunge-infused melodic quintet now comprise vocalist Anthony Hoult, twin guitarists Ant Winsper and Richard Burns, plus the rhythm section of John Bradley and Chris Jennings on bass and drums respectively. However, former four-stringer Andy Perry plays on this cut.
Released on Friday, 31 October, Don’t Come Around Here is a hugely infectious denunciation of racism or any form of appearance-based prejudice. 
The brooding goth-tinged intro is pierced by the heraldic twin guitar attack. With further interplay, it makes a captivating 50 seconds or so before the vocals enter the fray. One is already beguiled by the meticulous production, which keeps each element in sharp focus throughout.
As it settles into the verse, the menacing refrain reinforces the ambient malevolence while the chorus’s vocal ascendance represents the duality of the perpetrators’ intolerance as well as the narrator’s increasingly mystified, interrogative yet imploring response.
Solos, when they arrive, usually burst out in sheer contrast, but here it naturally evolves. Crafted as an extension of the song as opposed to an addendum, while the rhythm ‘n’ bass maintains the incessant momentum beneath.
Don’t Come Around Here is a hugely appealing and repeatable number whose vocal and melodic hooks are instantly seductive.
Frontman Ant recently told Metal Talk, “Moving forward, we made a conscious decision to gig less and write more. The reduced pressure of gigging so often has really given us time to get our songs to a point where we feel we’ve done them justice.
“Our earlier music was always good but not given the time we felt the songs deserved. We’re really pleased with our new music and are all looking forward to recording our next tune, Fix My Head, hopefully in January.”
I certainly agree that this approach has paid dividends with the time and attention to detail afforded shining through on every note.
Don’t Come Around Here will be available on all the usual streaming platforms. You can find the band on Spotify here.
