MELODIC metallers Oblivion play Le Pub next week and with the 1980s' revival in full swing, this could be their time.

Not many bands go in for full-on tap solos these days, and if they do, it's not often they play in public. But Oblivion do. And they do it well.

Punks may sneer but there's talent in this four-piece who are just beginning. Of all the youth groups to have had their time, none has been more enduring and omnipresent than metallers. Wherever you go, whenever it is, there will always be hard rock, heavy rock, heavy metal, speed metal or nu metal.

Iron Maiden and Metallica ride again through Oblivion. Legacy, the opening track from Oblivion's three-track EP, has Metallica's James Hetfield's nasal roar with similarly, 80s' metal guitars of Byron and Chris Pyke. The melodic runs and changes of pace sound like Maiden at their peak circa Number of the Beast.

Oblivion do play some mean guitar but it doesn't all sound as if it was produced on one these funny shaped axes. Track three, Fool's Gold, has no relation to the Stone Roses track of the same name, instead it's more like Children of the Damned, again by Iron Maiden. It is the kind of strong ballad Bon Jovi might have played 15 years ago.

The band formed in 1997 as Byron (vocals and guitar), Stephen Noyes (drums), Chris Pyke (guitars) and Huw Stapleton (bass), a line-up which remains firm.

In 1999 they were approached to appear on a compilation EP which got them radio airplay and press coverage. Word got around and they were asked to play in the National Assembly of Wales as part of BBC Music Live and could be seen on BBC and S4C news programmes. Since then they have played gigs in the usual Newport and Cardiff venues and are now looking to play further afield.

Oblivion play Le Pub, Newport on Thursday March 28. Admission is free.