Celebrating ten deafening years of Hey Colossus

Time ticked on, and the six-strong band’s copy of that ‘Best of’ cassette sat in their tour van for three years, played whenever they fancied a trip down memory lane. But when they ditched a van and its replacement arrived sans tape deck, the unholy noisemongers decided to give it a proper release.

Reincarnated as a double LP, Dedicated to Uri Klangers still manages to offer a potent glimpse under the hood of the band’s sonic journey from their South London inception in 2003 to that mediocre night at Sebright Arms in 2013. During that time, you can hear the band discovering its unique growl, its melding of powerful riffs with unholy attitude as they forged the abstract rock into playful and intelligent whole.

Even from its opening track "War Crows" it might leave you hard pressed to identify their potential. More puzzling even to consider the same band could release two of the best albums of 2015 – In Black & Gold and Radio Static High. But the blistering, quick and noisy romp was just one of the tunes that helped pave the way for eight albums, countless 12”s (often combined or split), three 7”s, five t-shirts, 11 countries played, numerous compilations, loads of complications – as well as a shifting line-up of bloody-minded members.

But don’t bother to look backwards for too long. Hey Colossus have promised a new album in April. So just consider this a Christmas present of sorts. Unwrap it in front of your family and treat them to one of the compilations best tracks, "How to Tell Time with Jesus".

It may raise hell. But the 10-minute song – hailing from 2013’s impressive Cuckoo Live Life Like Cuckoo – neatly encapsulates just how far the band had advanced its riff-loving rock with a patient and throbbing attack finally able to detonate its woozy psychedelic promise.

May it usher 10 more dark and majestic years for Hey Colossus.