Osc-DIs

Think in-your-face rock driven by testosterone-fueled aggression is purely an American concept? Check out Japan's Mad Capsule Markets, whose debut U.S. release is as hard and heavy as anything to hit these shores since Atari Teenage Riot. Though you've probably never heard of them, the trio had been kicking around the Japanese underground for a decade at the time of this release; they performed at South By Southwest and the CMJ Music Marathon back in 1997, and had their songs remixed by an international who's who that includes Germany's Alec Empire, the U.K.'s Adrien Sherwood, America's Long Beach Dub All Stars, and Japan's DJ Krush. It's easy to see the appeal, as the group marries the rapid-fire techno assault of Empire's Digital Hardcore roster with the extreme experimental noise of Japanese faves the Boredoms. Easy listening this is not, with brash blasts of pure rock & roll fury that could give a headbanger whiplash. The opening "Tribe" is like the soundtrack to Satan's own disco, with a percolating rhythm and grinding guitars capped off by frontman Kyono's unintelligible vocals, while "Pulse" marries a driving drum'n'bass beat with an infectious punk riff so heavy it'd give Blink 182 nightmares. This is wild, raucous, exhilarating stuff — garage rock energy and punk rock spirit with a glossy techno sheen. You'll almost assuredly never see them on the pop charts, but it'd likely be a blast of adrenaline to see themem live.