Disconnected

Dry Cell's debut album is a surprising amalgamation of melody and aggression along the lines of Linkin Park and Staind. Emerging from the cluttered alternative scene that is California, these four young men have put together an album that covers all the bases that add up to mainstream rock success, and although there is little on Disconnected that stands out from the slew of other young groups who have reached for the stars in 2002, Dry Cell has accomplished this while being comprised of three members who haven't even graduated from high school. If nothing else, Disconnected further proves that music is ageless, as these teenagers show an alarming knowledge of the music they wish to imitate. "Slip Away" kickstarts the album with a volatile burst of relentless pseudo-industrial rage that is reminiscent of Static-X, yet frontman Jeff Gutt has honed his vocal ability to seamlessly inflect pieces of Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, Godsmack's Sully Erna, and Korn's Jonathan Davis. Musically Dry Cell shares much in common with other California groups, such as Papa Roach and Adema, as their crystal-clear crunch harks back to a tradition that has kept the West Coast alternative scene above water since 1995. A downside to Disconnected is the abundant similarities amongst the songs presented, as halfway through the album one would be hard-pressed to distinguish one track from another. This is a common mishap in the alternative metal world, as bands such as Dry Cell focus their attention on a few songs with marketability and overlook the rest of their disc, yet even when the album does lose its focus, it still benefits from amazing catchiness. This is what will bring the listeners flocking back, as Dry Cell's songs do have a tendency to remain in the listener's head long after they end. That fact, along with simplistic lyrics that are easy to identify with and understand, are most likely what equals success for these young Los Angeles teens, and Disconnected is a solid debut that finds the band delivering their crossover appeal on a national level. ~ Jason D. Taylor, Rovi