The Black Cheetahs are based in Berlin, and it would be tempting to simply throw this into the full-blown German engineering pile. Except that the music sounds exactly like its title suggests: churning, throbbing wails smashing into an apocalyptic wall. This has a lot more to do with Streetcleaner than Einsturzende Neubauten, though elements of both are pretty obvious.

The Black Cheetahs Slow Doomed Fever (Wave Records)

Swans, too, are a pretty obvious touchpoint. This music isn't quite so sludgy (the production is startlingly clean), but the low-end power and, um, meditative pacing certainly fit. By and large bands don't make music like this, and there's a reason. Long, slow and loud songs are an acquired taste.

But perhaps one that might become ever-so-slightly more appealing with songs like these. The Black Cheetahs aren't out for pain. These are, at their hearts, anthems. The songs may stretch past eight or nine minutes at times, but their propulsive nature never slackens.

Good Lord, this stuff is heavy. Even when the band threatens to go mid-tempo (as on "Gold Gold Gold") the songs throttle down into a beastly first gear. Good grief, there's more than enough pain to go around. Lucky for us, this set doesn't stint on the pleasure. Dark charms abound.

Jon Worley