IT’S a landmark moment that only happens once for a band and now after six years together Hampshire’s Radio One stars Blaenavon are releasing their debut album this weekend.

The news continues a packed year for talented lead singer-guitarist Ben Gregory, bassist Frank Wright and drummer Harris McMillan who’ve already played SXSW festival in America, headlined their own UK tour, including a sold out night at The Joiners, and confirmed they are coming back to Southampton for this year’s Common People festival.

Now in their biggest week so far the Liphook and Liss trio are releasing That’s Your Lot, a passionately raw and pioneering breakthrough compilation which plots stories from the band’s six year journey together.

With lyrics about the ups and downs of relationships and the inevitable swings between optimism and despair on tunes like Let’s Pray and My Bark is Your Bite, even the darkest fears are set against infectious melodies and intricate beats.

Recorded with renowned producer Jim Abbiss, who’s worked on seminal debuts by Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club and Kasabian, the progressive alternative rockers were determined to make a game changing LP and indications are that with newer songs like Orthodox Man and Ode to Joe as well as older favourites like Prague and Swans they’ve succeeded.

On Tuesday, latest single Lonely Side was premiered on Radio One as MistaJam’s hottest record in the world with the lads heading to the station to talk about the song. They returned the following evening to go through more of the album on Huw Stephens’ show – the DJ is another big supporter.

Ben told MistaJam “There’s loads of different sides to this band and we wanted to put them across on our first record. A first album is such a big statement to make and ours takes you on a musical and emotional journey.”

The band have come a long way from their first venue gig at Winchester’s Railway Inn in 2011 and from Ben writing songs at home on an old acoustic Spanish Guitar.

Their album is the start in a long awaited line of debuts from exciting acts like The Sherlocks, Rat Boy, The Amazons, Declan McKenna and Pretty Vicious who are selling out all over the country and leading a new revolution in guitar sounds. Blaenavon have made the first move, the others have a lot to follow.

Blaenavon’s debut album That’s Your Lot is out now. The band play Southampton’s Common People weekend on Sunday May 28. More at blaenavon.com.

Richard Derbyshire