This debut LP from New York Quartet Boiler Room combines many of the things missing from the new wave of heavy metal. Hints of later day Skid Row (circa 'Subhuman Race') alongside Faith No More, this is traditional no frills metal with a powerful back bone and some well chosen power chords.
Whilst these influences are apparent, this is anything but retro. It is original and is causing a justified stir on the back of the nu-metal craze.
Originally released on Domino at the end of last year 'Can't Breathe' being re-issued off the back of the band's recent single 'Do It Again' and their recent 3 day tour taking in London, Edinburgh and the increasingly respectable rural metal haunt - Fat Pauly's in Norwich.
Whilst Metallica are loosing (lost?) the plot and Limp Bizkit are rapping their way to stardom, Boiler Room are a hard driving, all shouting, all rocking, new, stronger, genetically modified metal force: A hybrid of many of the things that have been exceptional in metal.
With no over reliance on solo's, this well performed collection encapsulates many a pent up teenage frustration. Tracks like 'Superficial', 'Insomnia' and 'Hopeless' all speak of angst and anger. The lyrics are hardly ground breaking, but complement the metal tunes. Produced by John Travis (Kid Rock) and mixed by Phil Nicolo (Cypress Hill) this proves an electric combination.
It remains to be seen whether this will break these boy's further into the major players league, but one thing is for certain, this certainly promises a lot for the future of metal music.
Generation X is dead and here are the metallers for Generation Ne(x)t.
