Transmit Disrupt [ECD]

It helps to know that British band Hell Is for Heroes named themselves after a controversial 1962 Steve McQueen movie, dismissed as formulaic by some, but lauded as a phenomenally powerful psychological study of the effects of war by others. The band obviously fell in the latter camp, and with their music they've attempted to reflect both the power and emotion they saw in McQueen's performance. Hell's debut album, The Neon Handshake, proved less divisive than their namesake, winning only acclaim from critics and a Top 20 place in the U.K. chart. Now with Transmit Disrupt, the Heroes battle to even greater heights and with a sweep of sound enough to send shivers down your spine. It's the big rockers and moshers that inevitably will receive the most attention, songs like the pounding "Quiet Riot," the ferocious "Folded Paper Figures," the rousing "Silent as the Grave," the driving crash and burn "Discos and Casinos," or the fist-in-the-air big ballad "Burning Lafayette." Yet amid this mix of electrifying tracks are more delicate numbers. "They Will Call Us Savages" still has a grand sweep of sound, but features lovely, fragile guitar work. "Models for the Programme"'s dynamic shifts also encompass such exquisite moments amid a down-beat, grunge-tinged (think Nirvana) sound that dives straight into an emotional abyss. These dramatic shifts of sound are one of the band's trademarks, energizing their songs and adding further emotional punch to the pieces. Thematically, however, the Heroes have moved into more desolate territory, the oblique lyrics awash in darkness, corruption, violence, and discomfort, giving even deeper depth to the vastness of their music. A stunning album by any measure. ~ Jo-Ann Greene|