Treat really are the gift that keeps on giving.

One of the definitions of the word "treat" is "anything that affords particular pleasure or enjoyment". How prophetic was it that the moniker selected by the old masters of the Scandie Rock scene in the mid-eighties would prove to be so meaningful as in their on/off thirty-plus year career, the Swedish superstars have hardly put a foot wrong.

'Tunguska' is Treat's third album since reforming in 2006 and it's once again an outstanding illustration of how to create perfectly crafted Melodic Rock music. I admit, for some reason, I wasn't overly enamoured by the album after the initial listen, but three or four spins later, the more subtle nuances had well and truly emerged and ingratiated themselves into my subconsciousness.

For me, one of the highly attractive features about 'Tunguska' is the astonishing guitar work of Anders Wikström. As the dramatic 'Rose Of Jericho', bouncy 'Best Of Enemies', pulsating 'All Bets Are Off' and hard rocking 'Heartmath City' all demonstrate, the band's true creative force has conjured up some of his most enthralling, strikingly creative and unexpected riffs to date, while also weighing in with some intense and quite brilliant solo work, the exemplary opener 'Progenitors' and fast-paced 'Creeps' being particular cases in point.

Despite 'Tunguska' comprising some of Treat's heaviest material so far, it's complemented by an abundance of their irresistible trademark melodies, if the anthemic first single 'Build The Love' wasn't enough of an example, then 'Always Have, Always Will', 'Man Overboard', 'Riptide', 'Undefeated' and the superb ballad 'Tomorrow Never Comes' demonstrate just how great Treat really are. Wikström, along with Robert Ernlund (vocals), Patrick Appelgren (keyboards), Jamie Borger (drums) and former Poodle Pontus Egberg (bass) have once again delivered a masterclass of Scandie Melodic Rock.

2010's 'Coup De Grace' masterpiece wasn't the, erm, coup de grace that many anticipated, but the quite wonderful 'Ghost Of Graceland' that eventually followed in 2016 clearly indicated that Treat had plenty more to offer. In all honesty, 'Tunguska' possibly isn't quite as good as either of those two previous albums, yet it still manages to knock spots off and outshine the majority of the current competition, surely emerging as a contender for those year-end Top Five lists. Treat really are the gift that keeps on giving.

Ant Heeks