Time Signature Living the dash...

Genre: hard rock / grunge

Following up on the successful and not very underwhelming "Underwhelming", Danish hard rockers released the EP "Be the Lo-Fi Friend" last year.

Compared to "Underwhelming", "Be the Lo-Fi Friend" strikes me as being much darker and more grungy than the predecessor, but also considerably more heavy, and it might actually appeal, not just to fans of hard rock, but also to fans of alternative metal and grunge.

The heavy opening track 'Living the Dash' has the same dark and introvert feel of an act like Alice in Chains, but places more emphasis on groove. Equally heavy, and even groovier is 'Your View' whose heavy pace actually strikes me as being quite mosh-friendly. 'Losing By Default' carries on the heavy and melancholic feel that characterizes the entire album, but features some more melodic and metallic riffage, combined with grungy passages. Slightly more on the atmospheric side, 'The Fade' is perhaps also the most introvert and melancholic track on the album, and it takes on a melodic metal personality towards the end.

The musicianship and songwriting is as solid as on "Underwhelmed", and, once more, Martin Arthur's unique singing style adds an unmistakable originality to the music of Spit Rusty.

"Be the Lo-Fi Friend" is an intense release which shows Spit Rusty from their darker and more introvert side, drawing on melancholic 90s alternative metal and grunge rock. Fans of this type of music should not hesitate to get their hands on this EP.

Time Signature We will be okay...

Genre: hard rock / metal

"Underwhelmed" is one of those releases that do not live up to their titles. I certainly do no feel underwhelmed when I listen to this EP, because it rocks. It rocks hard and it rocks good.

Stylistically, Spit Rusty have a broad reach and in the course of the four tracks of the EP, they manage to bring into the picture classic hard rock, traditional metal, sludge metal, groove metal, alternative metal & rock, Aerosmith-inspired funkiness, Paradise Lost-esque gothic metal/rock among other things. So, the release is definitely very varied, but, at the same time, it is also solidly coherent, never losing its focus.

The musicianship is top notch and rock solid (I would have loved some guitar solos though) with focus on riffage and catchy melodies. I particularly like vocalist Martin Arthur's voice which is unique and difficult to pinpoint - his singing might be an acquired taste to some, but it clicked with me immediately. He definitely adds a dimension of originality to the release.

"Underwhelmed" is a solid and varied hard rock release which should appeal to fans of both hard rock and traditional metal - in any case, it did not leave me underwhelmed.

...oh, and here's a challenge: can you spot the Jew's harp?