Review: The TR5's

Next up is the new album A Triumphant Return from Surrey's own The TR5's.

For over three years, The TR5's have been tearing up stages with their irresistible blend of 50's skiffle, early 60's rock 'n' roll and modern songwriting. While many bands look backwards with rose-tinted glasses, The TR5's do something far more impressive - they take those classic influences and inject them with enough energy, attitude and originality to make them feel completely at home in 2026.

The result is A Triumphant Return, an album bursting with swagger, melody and enough feel-good moments to brighten even the darkest day.

Opening track Showdown at the Ace Cafe crashes into life before immediately dropping into a smooth, infectious shuffle that simply refuses to let go. It is summery, energetic and overflowing with charm. The vocal harmonies are superb, blending modern pop sensibilities with unmistakable 50's and 60's influences.

The guitar work constantly dances around the vocal rather than simply supporting it, creating wonderful moments of interplay that give the song real movement. By the time the final chorus fades, you'll already be smiling.

It is the perfect introduction.

Just Like That launches with a stuttering distorted guitar before the full band bursts into life. The vocal melody constantly twists and evolves, carrying the listener effortlessly through a song packed with clever ideas, inventive rhythms and subtle musical flourishes.

There is perhaps the slightest nod towards Weezer hidden amongst the guitars, but it lasts only long enough for The TR5's to steer everything back towards their own unmistakable identity.

The breakdown is another example of their superb songwriting instincts. By allowing the music to breathe before launching back into the chorus, they somehow make the whole thing feel even bigger.

Another fantastic track.

Until The Dance Is Over initially feels like the Red Hot Chili Peppers if they'd formed sometime around 1958. Add a touch of The Beach Boys into the mix and somehow The TR5's still emerge sounding entirely like themselves.

This is our song of the summer.

Bright, breezy and effortlessly cool, the dual vocal performance elevates the entire track while hints of ska gently creep around the edges. Once again, their understanding of space is exceptional. Nothing feels rushed and every instrument is given room to shine.

My Boy Elvis is one of the album's undeniable highlights.

This is pure rock 'n' roll built on pounding drums, blues-soaked guitars and some wonderfully expressive solo work. It captures everything great about the music of the 50's and 60's while still sounding remarkably fresh.

This song has more swagger than Jagger.

By the second chorus you'll already be singing along, while the joyous outro builds towards a wonderfully satisfying crescendo.

An absolute standout.

Two Faces Of Love shifts things slightly with the male vocal taking centre stage. It is a clever move that immediately broadens the band's sound. Dreamy, melodic and beautifully layered, the guitar work quietly enhances every moment while the dual vocal arrangements continue adding extra depth.

The trademark use of space appears once again, making every reunion of the full band feel all the more powerful.

Then comes If You've Gotta Pick A Baby, which introduces a welcome ska and reggae flavour into proceedings. The vocal melody is absolutely gorgeous, almost nursery rhyme-like in its simplicity, yet delivered with effortless cool.

The song takes the listener on another journey, with particularly impressive drumming accentuating every shift in mood and direction.

Another huge highlight.

Hypocrite showcases the band's swagger more than almost any other track here. The groove is irresistible and the lyrics strike with genuine bite. There are fleeting flashes of Amy Winehouse in the phrasing and attitude, although delivered through The TR5's own sweeter vocal approach, making the whole thing somehow even more menacing.

The guitar work deserves enormous praise too. Short, tasteful and full of character, every note adds something meaningful.

When this band lock together, they are genuinely thrilling.

Take Control throws another surprise into the mix.

The distorted guitars become heavier, the attack becomes more punk-driven and suddenly we're hearing an entirely different side of the band. Yet despite the increased aggression, they never lose their identity.

Even the guitar solo refuses to descend into full-blown punk chaos.

Then comes perhaps the album's biggest curveball - a Celtic-inspired middle eight that has absolutely no right to work... but somehow works brilliantly before everything crashes back into the main riff.

It is fearless songwriting.

Anyone suggesting The TR5's are a one-trick pony clearly hasn't heard this record.

Please Yourself arrives with a beautifully sweet vocal that gently draws you in before the full band joins the party. On the surface it feels like straightforward pop, but underneath sits another brilliantly crafted arrangement packed with subtle ideas.

The back-and-forth dual vocal chorus is pure perfection and creates one of the album's biggest hooks.

A hidden gem.

Oh! Darling feels like Duffy starring in a modern remake of Grease. The atmosphere is wonderfully nostalgic, yet never dated. The music flows effortlessly while the melancholy lyrics are cleverly contrasted by uplifting instrumentation.

The vocal performance here is absolutely exceptional. Honest, vulnerable and packed with emotion, it turns what could have been a simple retro throwback into one of the album's boldest and most rewarding moments.

Finally, the album closes with Only Rock 'N' Roll Will See Us Through.

It is the perfect summary of everything that has come before.

Rock 'n' roll, skiffle, punk, pop, ska, harmony vocals, understated musicianship and huge choruses all come together beneath a message that feels almost like a rallying cry. It is joyful, defiant and full of the same infectious optimism that runs throughout the entire album.

The perfect curtain call.

A Triumphant Return is exactly what its title promises. The TR5's have taken the spirit of classic British rock 'n' roll and rebuilt it for a new generation without losing any of its heart, humour or swagger. Every song feels crafted with genuine love for music, yet none of it ever becomes an exercise in nostalgia. Instead, they create something that feels timeless, energetic and completely authentic.

In an age where so many bands chase trends, The TR5's simply chase great songs - and this album is packed with them. If this is A Triumphant Return, then we'd say the mission was accomplished... TR5's? More like TRI-umph!

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