Zebrahead
Waste of Mind
Sony
I love this record. Beyond a doubt, it’s one of the most successful hip-hop/metal/punk/ska fusions I’ve heard to date. The key concept that differentiates these guys from the pack is their innate appreciation and focus on melody and song structure. Not that you’ll be thinking about that, you’ll be too blown away by the alternately intricate then crunching guitar rhythms and the world class rhymes seamlessly segued into anthemic choruses. A big appeal for me is the proficient guitar work and sweet tone that’s always fresh but grounded hard in the rock tradition. These guys have all the right stuff at exactly the right time. I will be absolutely shocked if this album doesn’t generate a major hit. Sony Music, 550 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10022