ANTLER, a supergroup made up of Boston area rock luminaries, most notably three quarters of the almighty stonerrock kings ROADSAW, continue their vision of bluesy, dingy southern tinged rock that they started on their self titled debut. If you are looking to ANTLER to provide the bombast that ROADSAW provided, then you will be disappointed, but if your mind is open, ANTLER should have enough tools at their disposal to blow your mind.

Leave it to ANTLER to think outside the box in bringing in the perfect accompanying instruments to give their songs just the right color. A tasteful horn section suits album opener "The Gentle Butcher" very well, as does the harmonica on "Deep in a Hole." The guitars on "See Me Hang" are held up masterfully by the sweet sound of Hammond organ. Craig Riggs' voice remains in top form. Anyone who's seen or heard the 'SAW knows what a great frontman he is, but he really gets a chance to stretch out and shine on this record. His voice can sell any song. Listen to him coax the bluesy crawl of the aforementioned "Deep in a Hole" to near rock anthem status by chorus' end. Riggs also did an admirable job with the production duties, having recorded it at his own studio, the soon-to-be legendary Mad Oak Studios in Allston, MA (AEROSMITH were recently rumored to have been seen leaving the premises.) There's no shortage of ambiance on the disc. "Behind the Key" haunts along eerily like White Album BEATLES by way of later-day STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. Musicianship is tight, all around. Worth mentioning is drummer Brian Strawn, who is comfortably in the pocket throughout the whole disc. "Black Eyed Stranger" grooves along nicely in a half-time shuffle.

This is the perfect disc to put on when the party's over and it's time to clean up the puke. If you're in the mood for log-cabin dwelling mountain-man rock, this is the "f*ck the world, I'm going to live in the woods" soundtrack that you require.

- Broadbent

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/antlerboston

RELATED ITEMS: ANTLER - S/T, 2004 .