Now here is a band that plays rock n’ roll the way it was meant to be played. It’s down and dirty, raw and a whole lot of fun. Circus Diablo is truly a breath of fresh air. From the moment the punk-fueled opener, “Loaded,” kicks in, it’s clear these industry veterans—vocalist Billy Morrison (Camp Freddy, The Cult), lead guitarist Billy Duffy (The Cult), guitarist Ricky Warwick (The Almighty), bassist Brett Scallions (Fuel) and drummer Matt Sorum (The Cult, Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver)—know exactly what they’re doing and they don’t give a damn about fitting in with current trends. (With Velvet Revolver gearing up for the release of their new album, Sorum will be unable to tour with Circus Diablo, but he leaves them in the capable hands of Slunt drummer Charles Ruggiero.)

Circus Diablo’s self-titled album struts its way through 11 tracks, including a cover of Adam Ant’s “Ants Invasion” and the spoken word “Commercial Break.” Their material seems custom-made for the stage—you can practically feel the sweat as you listen to it—and they are one of the biggest reasons why I am excited about this summer’s Ozzfest. This is one of the best debuts of the last few years.