Compared to most of the wannabe-shlock we get around here, reviewing records from the Tankcrimes label is sorta like flipping through the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, approvals ranging from great to spectacular without requiring much thought or analysis.

Oakland’s KING GENERATOR serve up seven tracks of amped-up sludgy metal with touches of grind on this magnificent one-sided 12” EP. Tracks are short and riffy, with tempo changes that run the full gambit from balls-out speed to wounded crawl. The scrappy one-minute espresso shot of “Broken Dreams” gets the blood flowing right off the bat, and the mosh-friendly groove of “The Death Machine” keeps it pumping strong. Somehow, by the time we get to “My One Regret”, we’re all worshipping at the misery-shrouded altar of GRIEF. Side two of this slab is speckled with a laser-etched design that just oozes coolness, and the disc comes with a CD copy of the tunes so you never have to put the needle to this puppy. Get to the Tankcrimes site folks; Scotty is good people.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/kinggenerator

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