After 1994's monstrously wonderful Down, it seems that the Lizard may have peaked. Shot is still a fairly decent release, but it seems somewhat uninspired.

"Thumbscrews," a ranting revenge fantasy against a cocksucking landlord, is prime Lizard. "We will get the thumbscrews and put him in his place / leave a big fat hole where he used to keep his face." David Yow's gutteral vocals spit where they shine and take no prisoners. "Trephenation" is a melodic (!) number with megaphoned vocals and shows a bit of -- dare I say it -- maturity! The band is still pretty tight, but songs like "Churl" and "Too Bad About the Fire" tread water. Not a bad album, but not as good as it should have been.

-Jason Josephes