Most folks probably missed it, but during this site's down time last year I wrote a review on the debut EP of NYC's SEIZURE CRYPT. To sum it up, it was the greatest breath of fresh air in 2006. The jovial insanity and DIY charm of those seven tracks made this one about as addictive as crack - making them the perfect choice to round out my Top 10 list for the year.

Now, as 2007 draws to a close, we finally have a follow-up in the form of "Hello…My Name is Madness", and while the times they are a-changing for these hardcore heroes, that's not a bad thing. This time around, the amateurish production and cover art has given way to crisper (read: more metallic) guitar distortion, tighter compositions and… drum triggers? To give an analogy, it's kind of like jumping from the debut of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES straight to, say, the "Controlled by Hatred" EP. Well, we all gotta grow up sometime.

First, let's get the bad news out of the way. For those that actually did hear the band's previous effort, you've already heard three out of these eight songs. But while this may be a slight bummer, the old songs have been given a new spin. "The Great Defector", now the opener, has been given a sweet new build-up intro, the slow and somber "Herein the Problem Lies" shows the band experimenting with timpani drums (!), and the lyrics have been slightly reworked in "Inhuman Nature". And not to worry… the hilarious dueling vocals of Tom Reardon and Mike SOS, which were one of the key selling points of their last effort, are still intact and as charismatic as ever.

As far as the new songs, there's a new sense of variety to be had. While tracks "Thankless" and "Where the Bodies are Buried" reiterate the rapid-fire thrash style the band's already known for, the far more mid-paced "The Deadend" and "Enigma" introduce an element of groove that wasn't there before. After that, album closer "Eulogy" is a MOTORHEAD-inspired shot of rock energy that hints at just how musically capable this band truly is.

The best part is that the strides taken by the band to cross over have been paying off, if the wealth of positive reviews from metal 'zines posted on the band's website is any indication. For this reviewer, this is no surprise whatsoever. Heed this advice: after SEIZURE CRYPT is done with you, check your ass for footprints!

- Cardona

OFFICIAL SITE: www.seizurecrypt.com

RELATED ITEMS: SEIZURE CRYPT - "Seizure Crypt", 2005