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A good rock band tends to be one that has been around for a good number of years. Their global fan base, platinum album sales and massive stadium concerts touring through most of the major cities on the planet several times over allow them to become Rock Gods of the World. Metallica, Slipknot, Korn to name but a few. Taking Back Sunday should soon be doing the same (but only if they stay together).

Over time the band has had members come, members go and even members that have gone and come back again. Only one band member has been part of the band since day nought.

Listening to the latest album, their fifth studio release which has been self-titled as Taking Back Sunday, it is full of wondrous, glorious, foaming-at-the-mouth, 21st century rock n roll.

El Paso – video below – is by far one of the best, classic screaming, guitar riff laden, snare bashing, rock n roll tracks that has caught my attention in some time. I perhaps say that about almost every rock band I write about but I’m not going to tell anyone about someone sub-standard. No-one cares about mediocre bands, only the best. Taking Back Sunday to me are one of the best.

The overall sound of the energetic, passionate and relentless vocalist with his voice ranging from sincere and honest to being aggressive and melodic screaming matches the dynamic, stimulated and almost ruthless style of music that supports him. Similar in a way to early Pantera’s Phil Anselmo but less screeching. My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way without so much vibrato and yet more masculinity than Fall Out Boys’ Patrick Stump. Lead singer, Adam Lazzara is impressive. Rod Stewart in places and Chester Bennington in others. A bit like The Used.

After El Paso, Faith (When I Let you Down) – video below – follows with roaring vocal harmonies, meaty guitar chords, thunderous bass and kick ass drums. The whole album can be described as being that way but with different tunes. Sad Saviour begins with an intro resembling Beautiful Girl by INXS but with more guts. Money (Let It Go) has a more sinister bassline with background vocals flying in with plenty of gutsy fill-ins. This Is All Now has an broken beat, catchy drum track with again, cracking singing.

Listening to Taking Back Sunday it’s as if every member of the band has a chance to shine on every piece of material within the album.

The last track Call Me In The Morning is as close as we get to a ballad. A heartfelt explosion of emotion but it’s a damn sight better than Bon Jovi.

If you like alternative rock music, try this if you haven’t already. Wicked stuff.

Taking Back Sunday by Taking Back Sunday is out now released by Warner Bros Records.