Back in the 80s, this would have easily slotted into the "metal" stacks. These days? Val Tvoar's mix of punky, yet technical, stoner rock is something of a genre unto itself. It's loud and melodic. It's the sort of music that a band would never make.

Val Tvoar Today Is Tomorrow's Yesterday (self-released)

Tvoar plays and sings everything here, giving him the freedom to follow his own instincts. While the less-than-shiny production might be the result of Tvoar's skill (or lack thereof) on the board, my guess is that he wanted a dirty sheen overlaying his sound. That scrim really helps push these songs into a territory of their own.

Yes, the riffage is glorious. And Tvoar rips off some nice solos. He's not the most adventurous player, but he knows how to keep a song moving. His voice is strong, and he has a nice range. With all that, he's a bit of a throwback, albeit one with two feet pointing toward the future.

Heavy is as heavy does. Back in college (a thousand years ago) I hosted the "metal" show. I changed the focus a bit, calling the show "Something Loud" and including everything from Bad Religion to Napalm Death. Val Tvoar would have fit right in. I don't know what to call this, exactly, and I really don't care. Listening makes me smile, and that's enough.

Jon Worley