Album rocks political issues, calls for changes

CD REVIEW

By David Felton, On-line Forty-Niner

Music aficionados who seek a middle ground between hard-core punk and mainstream ska will enjoy The Suicide Machine's new album "Battle Hymns."

This sophomore release initiates driving, punk-rock grooves with dynamic mood and tempo variety and in-your-face acoustics.

"Battle Hymns" is a hefty collection of 22 songs, each under two minutes in length; one called "Punck," may hold the record for the shortest song ever written, as it lasts a mere four seconds.

Old school rockers should appreciate this album's hard-core edge. Its first two tracks, "Someone" and "Hating Hate" explode before the album shifts into a potent ska beat with "Give."

The remaining songs explore raucous rock and vigorous ska grooves to hasten one's heartbeat and stir one's blood. A few songs might even rupture one's eardrums.

Lyrics dealing with racial tension, pollution and various other social and political concerns dominate the album. "Battle Hymns" is a righteous name for this album's reveille for change.

This is an excellent album created by a pierced and tattoo-draped crew.