Invasive / Exotic

Loud and brooding, this sociopolitical group tends to hit the listener over the head with their message with bloodcurdling wails and nu-metal intensity. Lead singer Michelle tends to create little in the way of substance on the opening "Lender of the Last," but the hardcore punk metal of "Michael Cosgrove" is a slight improvement. The musicianship is about average for such an album, but the intensity of each track is definitely a positive, even if it sounds a bit over-produced and far too polished. "Barrell Roll" is the best track here, but even then it's not saying very much. "Sidesplitter" is the most accessible song, coming off as a hard punk rock number despite the nu-metal overtones. Unfortunately, the group doesn't seem to have much in the way of originality, although the heavy metal attempt on "Creeping Death," a Metallica cover, is a brief positive.