9MM Solution
Trial
6.8
Milwaukee's 9MM Solution, featuring members of Morta Skuld, play a typical radio-friendly style of groove-metal. It's done in the way of everything that permeates the modern rock stations these days. A few production effects, some clean sung parts which build to heavy choruses, and downtuned chugging guitars. With the occasional backing Tom Arraya shrill-screams, Hobbes Caltous has an excellent gritty and low toned yell, a bit like you'd hear in Slipknot. His timing is perfect, contributing to 9MM Solution's ability to write distinct and well-balanced parts in every song. I can't speak too highly of all the clean-sung vocals you hear from time to time in the background, which are occasionally off-key, and usually come off as sounding like Godsmack/Alice In Chains-esque. Keyboards phase in and out in an unobtrusive fashion, giving a more modern edge to the feeling of the album.
Although it's a vapid brand of music to be playing in the first place, at least they do it well. This might sound like most people who talk about metal ("it all sounds the same! its just a bunch of yelling and guitar!"), but I think the closest comparison I could dig up would be perhaps to Disturbed. Which, from my point of view, isn't necessarily an insult as I personally find Disturbed to be wildly entertaining and retarded. Think of 9MM Solution as a serious and heavier version, perhaps.
Wha? This is supposedly produced by Chris Djuricic (Jungle Rot), who apparently produced SOiL (oh god), among other artists. It's an extremely tight mix, really lending itself to 9MM Solution, who I predict could fall flat on their faces if it weren't for such quality recording.
All in all, 9MM Solution's EP, Trial, is fairly good. I can't recommend it seriously to many people I know, however, if you have a weak spot for some of the shit you hear on the radio, give 'em a chance. They'll probably more than exceed your expectations. I wouldn't be surprised if this band ended up playing the second stage of Ozzfest someday. However, for most of the people who regularly read this site, you'd do well to steer clear altogether.
