I remember reading an interview with the guys from DOUBLE NEGATIVE a few months back; One of 'em made a comment about grunge "coming back in a big way", which seemed like an odd comment for a NC-based band. Sure enough, a few weeks later, some inferior music rags started running grunge anniversery articles. In deference to music like this, I think it's human nature to remember the good - a sort of foundation concept for any type of nostalgia. And baby, there's plenty of good to remember: Those dark, quivering Kim Thayil riffs, the huge drum sounds of BIG CHIEF, the bouncing, rattling grooves and wailing guitars of MUDHONEY, GRUNTRUCK and TAD - a bevy of heavy-duty stuff.

The arrival of this disc from San Diego's FIRETHORN practically had me salivating for the above-mentioned goodies, until the grainy riff and Cobain-ish vocals of the first track hit me like cafeteria smell. The tunes seem like a garagey take on poppier, hookier fare from the early 90s like NIRVANA and EVERCLEAR, from the simple chorus-restatement solo of "Mr. Invisible" to the plain vanilla slacker ballad of "The Nerve!!" (which also recalls the mellower side of AIC to a degree). There are a few bright moments, like the riff in "Make Me Cry" that rocks in a "Negative Creep" sorta way, and the churning melancholy break halfway thru "Cinders". Chris' vocals weave that sort of tortured teenage-dropout croon that your girlfriend might enjoy, but it won't rival the demented STOOGES / BLUE CHEER caterwauling from the ghosts of grunge past. Overall FIRETHORN is harmless fun: Safe, poppy fare for those who missed out on the godfathers of 1991.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/firethornrock

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