The HOT LIST

THE ESSENTIAL NEW ROCK TRACKS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS MONTH AND THE BANDS TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR

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We've got some proper humdingers for you this month, from the newest faces in classic revivalism (e.g. The Lancasters, Luna Marble) to the youngest guitarist on Alice Cooper's latest record (Gyasi) and a rocked up version of a Pointer Sisters classic that's become a stealth favourite around these parts (step forward, Royal Republic). All that and much more good stuff besides.

Royal Republic I'm So Excited Sweden's premier disco-rocking renegades return joyously to our lives, newly reimagined as The Blastbeaters - aka the band's "corpse-painted, Volvo-driving, bad-decision-making Black Metal alter-egos on a mission for world domination". Their schtick? Rocked up dancefloor classics with a black metal mask that no one knew they needed (but really, we do). So far they've taken on Shocking Blue's Venus and the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive (falsetto-free and beefy as hell), but our favourite is their gleeful, sax-spiked rendition of The Pointer Sisters' I'm So Excited. Starry-eyed and immaculately executed, it instantly made our week a lot better. They're coming over to the UK for shows in February. See you under the glitter ball...royalrepublic.net

Plus, with Christmas fast approaching, why not arm yourself now with a reassuring stash of quality rock'n'roll to offset the endless replays of Merry Xmas Everybody, Fairytale Of New York and fucking Stay Another Day that we're doubtless destined to be hit with over the coming weeks?

There's a time and place for overplayed festive hits, of course, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared for the onslaught either. For more of the best new music each week head over to classicrockmagazine.com