I don’t think anyone else could have been more surprised than I was when I first played this record and discovered UB40’s Ali Campbell embracing a drastic new musical direction.

Known for his chilled reggae pop, the first single from Campbell’s new album Running Free is a powerful and unyielding metal record.

Beginning with the most vicious riffs to be heard on record all year, the guttural screams of the singer about the war in Iraq are….

Ok I’ll stop it now. Ali Campbell’s first single from his new album is exactly what you’d expect from the singer. In fact, the record is so predictable and dull it’s surprising it even got picked as a single.

The UB40 singer’s new album is set to feature collaborations with many well-known artists, including Lemar, Katie Melua (eek), Mick Hucknall and even Motown legend Sir Smokey of Robinson.

That fact alone makes it bizarre that the record company should choose to trail the LP with a song sung solely (bit of alliteration there) by Campbell.