CHRISSIE Hynde, chanteuse of The Pretenders, memorably said “it’s all about the riff” when talking of classic rock and roll.

Well, there are riffs here in the Pixies’ first studio album for 13 years that are riff-it-up, raspberry riffle and riff-roaring. Terrific indeed.

The things lead singer and guitarist Black Francis and fellow fret-marvel Joey Santiago do with guitars are phenomenal.

Even if some of the material descends into album filler, they hammer spots off other contemporary bands.

Given that, and a sometimes messy production that muddies the vocals, there are several stand-out tracks to sit alongside the best of the Pixies’ canon.

What Goes Boom is an explosive opener while the title track ranges across four mesmeric time changes and graced by a Mark E Smith-type vocal from Black.

Blue Eyed Hexe is Formula 1 oomph personified and the booming Bagboy is driven by a stringed tornado recalling the guitar blitzkreig of PIL. It’s a wall of sound that would shred concrete at 50 yards. Blistering.