Purification

Just as there are American and Canadian alternative rock bands with a long list of U.K. influences, there are U.K.-based alternative rock bands with a lot of North American influences; Lethargy is such a band. On Purification, this Welsh alternative rock/post-grunge outfit shows a strong appreciation for the American grunge and alternative rock bands that became popular in the 1990s. Soundgarden are an especially strong influence, and elements of Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam also make their presence felt on grungy offerings such as "Convenient Ignorant Amnesia," "Innocence Serene," and "I See Man's End in His Construction." But it would be a mistake to think that all of Lethargy's influences are American bands from Seattle or that they are oblivious to albums that were recorded before Nevermind, the 1991 classic that made Nirvana superstars and did a great deal to make alternative rock mainstream. British hard rock and heavy metal bands of the 1960s and 1970s have also affected Lethargy's sound, including Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Uriah Heep. And that makes perfect sense when one considers that those old-school British bands had a strong influence on the Seattle-based grunge and alternative rock bands that emerged in the late '80s and early '90s. It stands to reason that alterna-rockers who are into Soundgarden and Alice in Chains will also be into Sabbath and Zeppelin (at least if they know their rock history). Purification isn't exceptional, but overall, the material is decent — and while Lethargy aren't terribly original, they are good at what they do. All things considered, Purification indicates that this Welsh combo is worth keeping an eye on.