Finally, at long last, a band that plays heavy music that holds my interest without heaving me into headache hell.

Hula Popper's vigorous beats are hefty enough for hardcore fans, guitars are glaring enough for metal fans, and lyrics are blatantly crass enough for the rest of us to stand up and take notice. Rather than overpowering their audience with all three at once, however, Hula Popper lets guitars and vocals and drumbeats all take their turn, playing a little game of call and response that is immediately likable. The bass plummets down like a hailstorm, pelting into the forefront of the record, while plenty of drums beat the listener into grateful submission.

Surprisingly, the effect of all this flogging is immensely satisfying, reminding me of Mother Tongue, whose music I discovered back in '94. It's charmingly shocking, capturing the essence of punk rock while offering a bit more bite.

A. Koledin