James Leg (aka John Wesley Myers of the Black Diamond Heavies) is set to release his second proper solo album, Below The Belt, later this summer. It is more blisteringly fierce and sleazy blues distinguished by his trademark gruff howl, mixed with equal measures of bourbon, butane and nicotine.

On his new album, the ghosts of Leg’s past haunt these ten tracks. From the rafter-raising gospel cover of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s Up Above My Head, to the menacing rocker of opening track Dirty South, the bluesy swagger of Drink It Away and an in-the-red cover of The Dirtbombs’ burning garage-rock stomper Can’t Stop Thinking About It, there’s even a devilish re-working of The Cure’s A Forest.

Stream Up Above My Head here.