If Bridge And Tunnel's third album represented their outlook on life then surely there is no hope in the world. Blood and darkness feature heavily on the album cover images and the title of apocalyptic opener 'Don't Die Ashamed' clearly sets the agenda for an hour's worth of gritty, humourless rock. Looking further into the songs, 'Terrible Things' covers dark, redemptive country music whilst 'Dave's Big Score' is the sound of Simon And Garfunkel performing a particularly depressed version of 'Scarborough Fair'. When it gets to the funereal pace and sawing violin of the title track it all becomes a little too much to take in but the best run of form actually arrives towards the end of 'The Great Outdoors'. 'Down' enters the modern age with scratchy electronic effects, the excellent single 'City Rules' sees the Berlin dwellers actually speed up into mid-pace rock whereas 'We Are The Sons' possesses an alluring deathly pulse; all three tracks excel in downbeat rock. Seeing life through such a grim filter is not always the most attractive prospect but Bridge And Tunnel just about pull it off.