Various Artists – Premeditation Volume Two

"I found a sound that turned me around," sing Belfast's LaFaro. Take note rock fans, they did not say "I've knocked off a few old Jam riffs, let's see if this bullshit flies," Predestination are choosier than that. LaFaro's Nirvana-esque gambit sets an inspired tone for a course of 19 solid contributions. The strong, distinct influence of marginalised labels like Dischord and Ipecac is all over the volume and this clear salute to DIY values appears as something of a life raft being tossed out from a sinking ship that's in the process of having a gigantic hair gel logo branded down its rusting side.

Whether it's France's Gatchien bringing some continental alternative flavour or Glasgow's Ex-Wives, Dundee's Spyamp, Edinburgh's Your Loyal Subjects or Stirling's Dead Or American flying the flag high as some of Scotland's finest purveyors of raw attitude; the quality here is high and every outfit on show clearly pours their soul into this noteworthy underground triumph.