Grounded... Like a Prop Plane

Two slices of lean, angular post-punk guitar interplay from this Athens, GA, three-piece. One hears glimpses of old-schoolers Television and Mission of Burma in the tightly wound chordings of Eric Friar and Sherryl A. Branch, as well as Shellac's more measured performances and just a dollop of Pavement's melodic sense. While Heros Severum boast plenty of taut energy, there's also a welcome sense of space and restraint, and Friar and Branch thankfully play together, rather than against one another. In addition, Friar's melodic vocals are stronger than the norm for this sort of band, and the songs are both smart and sturdy. Solid work for a band with the potential to do better things.