Cycles

To the uninitiated, listeners may prematurely conclude that Soul Control specialize in hard-hitting hardcore (with metallic leanings) on their 2009 release, Cycles. But upon closer inspection, it turns out that the quartet is largely modeled after such '90s-era Amphetamine Reptile bands as (early) Helmet and Unsane -- both of which were quite content in not sticking entirely to hardcore's rules. Up until this point, Soul Control have only issued singles and EPs, so the fact that Cycles is a full-length (although calling it a full-length when it only clocks in at barely over half an hour may be pushing it) is a new approach for the band. Despite this somewhat expanded format, Soul Control maintain their level of intensity from beginning to end -- with a few tranquil detours inserted to serve as "breathers" -- including such ditties as the album-opening "Beyond Words," "Like Spiders," and "Fundamental Forces." And they even manage to get sonically artsy-fartsy here and there (as evidenced by such tracks as "Flux"). ~ Greg Prato