Temporarily Disconnected

The 24-7 Spyz combination of soul, funk, jazz, and metal on display throughout 1995's Temporarily Disconnected is by no means a breakthrough for the group or its fans. After following Living Colour into the metal-as-practiced-by-black-musicians void, 24-7 Spyz tried mightily to not only avoid the predictable stereotypes, but also had to overcome comparisons to the one and only group that ever made a serious and successful effort at what they were also attempting. All preconceptions aside, if the particular brand of eclectic hard rock or metal that 24-7 Spyz practiced didn't sound like Living Colour — soaring, soulful vocals laid over angular, jazz-inflected metal riffing with only occasional references to the Black Sabbath chordings from which so many Caucasian outfits draw their rhythmic influence — then nothing did. There are some hard-driving metal standouts like "Fire and Water" and "Heart of Fire," but the almost wave-ish soft jazz of "Choose Me" — while brilliantly executed — would certainly confound even open-minded metal fans. The jagged musical gifts that this band possesses are on full display on this record, but Temporarily Disconnected is just too scattered to warrant a strong recommendation.