WITH the likes of Biffy Clyro and Twin Atlantic dominating the airwaves, Scotland has become the home of the UK's alternative rock scene recently.

And with emerging bands like Aberdeen's The Xcerts on the rise, that trend shows no signs of letting up.

The Xcerts' music fits somewhere between indie band Idlewild and the anthemic rock of Foo Fighters.

Frontman Murray Macleod's lyrics are raw and heartfelt with a haunting quality but with fast, catchy distorted guitars and drums and big choruses.

'There Is Only You' is The Xcerts' third studio album and returns to the style and tone of their first album, 'In The Cold Wind We Smile', after their darker, heavier second album, 'Scatterbrain'.

Hopefully this will be their breakthrough because this is a polished collection of rock songs that have instant appeal.

Highlights include 'Live Like This', a fast and rousing rock tune, the extremely catchy single 'Shaking In The Water' which might have you singing along despite yourself and 'Pop Song', which, as the name suggests is a marriage of pop and rock complete with piano.

The Xcerts, who formed when Murray and Jordan Smith met in their head teacher's office when they were 13, are a passionate trio who put everything into their music.

And they have found a producer to match that in Dave Eringa, who has worked with Manic Street Preachers and Idlewild. One to watch.

DAVID MORGAN