Iz: E M

Eminent progressive-rock drummer and bandleader Dave Kerman provides the punishing backbeats for this power trio's wily sonic assault on E M. With steely-edged choruses, linear patterns, and trance-like forward motion, the band's sound resembles a crosspollination of death metal and classic prog rock.

Guitarist Michael Lance Serviolo incorporates stinging sustain lines into his supercharged arsenal, along with injections of metallic grunge-rock stylizations. The group pursues a series of unexpected shifts in momentum, coupled with traces of humor and cyclical movements to counterbalance the huge wall-of-sound permutations. And they get down and dirty when Serviolo and bassist Tom Sublet often harmonize primary themes. Yet Serviolo's bone-shattering crunch chords generate the ominous musings.

On Etudes of Staurn/Hunting Lodge Tank, Kerman renders a Ravel "Bolero -like pulse, subsequently leading to a frantic 4/4 groove that's awash with odd-metered deviations. In other spots, the music features phased guitar parts, mutant electronics and a sequence of quirky digressions. Ultimately, it's a fun listen and somewhat typical of the off-kilter ambitions (regardless of genre) that have earmarked the ReR label's experimental manifesto.