IT'S debatable how much attention one should pay to a bunch of white, seemingly middle-class former students who've named their band after a black ghetto.

But Lostprophets like The Bronx enough to bring them all the way from LA to support them in Cardiff, so here goes.

The relentlessly screaming punk band releases its pounding, eponymous debut album on Monday next week.

The collection of eleven songs do rock and sound nice thanks to Gilby Clarke's (Guns n'Roses) production.

But despite the roaring guitars, rock posturing and fast pace, there's something instantly disappointing about The Bronx.

Of course, there's nothing new musically on the album, a fact you could have taken for granted.

But even their boast that they've recorded without any headphones or pro-tools and use of a strict 'three-take and it's done policy', fails to produce results.

Instead, they're set to release an album of rock-school-rock, a cowardly record on which the Bronx have taken no risks nor made for any new ground.

The Bronx support Lostprophets in Cardiff University on Friday, February 20.