While these guys aren't doing anything innovative with modern rock, they sure have a clue as to what sells. Right off the bat, the chunky distortion and white noise commands you to acknowledge that it rules surpreme in Automaticland. Vocalist Matt Fenton starts in with the meaningless lyrics trend ("Took another sidestep / Cut through the rain / Trippin' up and down / Better show me the way") and then the song kicks into a full-blown, murderous assault of rhythm-pounding, one-chord aggression. For a debut record, these guys have it down.

The problem is that it's all been done before. Every faceless one-hit-wonder of the '90s has used this technique. It worked well for Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana and Pearl Jam; that's what sold their records. Unfortunately for some, grunge is still dead and it's looking bleak in terms of a comeback.

This record would have had some serious appeal in 1992, but five years later, it's heading straight for the Tower Records cutout bin.

-Ryan Schreiber