American Paradox

Strung Out includes: Jason (vocals); Jake, Rob (guitar); Chris (bass); Jordan (drums).
Recorded at Westbeach Studios, Hollywood, California.
This California-based punk rock combo has been rocking since the early '90s, slowly building up their fan base through the usual grueling touring schedule that was the only option available to a band devoid of hits. That's all changed with their fifth full-length album, the defiantly energetic AN AMERICAN PARADOX. Strung Out delivers a tightly produced and played set that's a culmination of all that's gone before, all polka-fast beats, angst-y vocals and slabs of thick guitar.
They're not above producing their own brand of pop, though--witness the infectious almost-power pop of "Dig"--but mostly they speak to the preoccupations of disaffected youth with anthems such as "Kill Your Scene" and the mad headlong rush of the album opener, "Velvet Alley." There's some nifty guitar work and tricky time changes, too, on "Cult of the Subterranean," which shows they've spent at least some of their time in the tour van wisely, while "Cemetery" displays their awareness of a well-played metal riff. PARADOX is that best-of-both-worlds combination of punk energy and musical savvy that's a rare find today, and even rarer on the Billboard charts.