The thing I like about Intense Records is that they are a Christian label. Now, a lot of you aren't cool with that, and I just won't let you shun this album because of it. After all, you won't see these guys on the 700 Club, and I'm sure Jerry Falwell is not hip to the Intense tip. But the fact is you can put any message in heavy metal, even death metal or grindcore.

This is not that heavy, not even as heavy as their last, which included a song called "Chipped Beef," which was merely a recipe for that dish put over music. No such humor here. The music tends to heavy Euro-metal, with a touch of the grind at times. But I think these folks have been listening to some Helloween and such lately. I'm a sucker for that. This jams. And you can always read the Bible verses to your listeners.

While supergroup is used a little much these days, Down By Law fit that in every way. With a lineup consisting of the remaining Chemical People, Dave Smalley of Dag Nasty, ALL and D.Y.S. and Chris Bagarozzi of Clawhammer (I noticed he always gets listed last. Sorry, man), DBL are heavy hitters. And certainly schooled enough in punk to move it on to the next level.

Their debut last year was one of the year's best, and this begins where that one left off (cliche alert!). To get off the rhetoric, this smokes! As if the Epitaph label didn't clue you in, Blue is destined for greatness.

If you don't play stuff like this on your show, then you are omitting one of the most vital sides of loud music. This isn't just pop-punk harmonizing, either. Bagarozzi's guitar work shines. The diversity in his punk attack is rather amazing.

The moment this CD graces your airwaves, people will call. Blind will have sight. Frigidaires will fuck.

Maybe not. But you'll love the music.

Grave's last album stuck on my charts for over half a year, and it wasn't even new when I started. So I know you like these Swedes.

And let's face it: they're not bad at what they do. This album goes through a lot more tempo changes and mood shifts than Into the Grave. I really dig the percussion work done here. It is not in the normal grindcore vein, but more in reaction to the guitar work. More ride than crash cymbal, more clean drum breaks. I like.

And they have taken a clue from their labelmates Tiamat and used more keyboards, though not intrusively. This is the future of death metal, so you might as well pay attention. And grind your head into the Grave.

My fears of this being more Seattle retread were erased with the opening riff of the first song. Yeah, it does remind one of Soundgarden a little, but there is something else. And, well, Ben McMillan's vocals are an important part of the Seattle legacy, so Gruntruck could never escape all that anyway.

Once again in this issue, I am forced to say this is nothing new or original, but it's good. And much better than Inside Yours, which was, after all, two years old when Roadracer re-released it this year.

I don't think I can do a damn thing about the vibe surrounding this album, so I'll stop now.

Intense. Home of great bands like Vengeance Rising and Tourniquet. Here is the debut of Australian Christian grindcore band Mortification.

It is possible to grow up in a slam pit and still be Christian. Or Jewish. Or Muslim. Or whatever. No matter what kind of music you listen to, your religion can handle it. After all, God can't be sitting in heaven saying "A one and a two and a..."

Well, I hope he isn't. These guys are true believers, and their music is rather vicious. Nothing terribly original, mind you, but good. And the sound effects are a nice touch.

The label that is almost single-handedly keeping the pop punk spirit alive in America has done it once again. In this era of "alternative" posers and whiny Europeans, a voice has been rising out of Long Beach for over ten years. A year ago they "traded" L7 to SubPop for C/Z's Coffin Break and scored with Crawl. Not to mention Pennywise, NOFX or the almighty Bad Religion.

The Offspring come from that proud tradition, a little rougher and more "rockin'" than most. The sparseness of the production combined with the songs themselves is breathtaking. Of course, the lyrics are topical and incisive. Wait a minute. Is this a rave review?

Of course. You know, for a split second I was reminded of the Go-Go's first album, which was a pop masterpiece. This really doesn't have a damn thing to do with that, but Dexter Holland's vocals sometimes have just a hint of that Val alto Belinda Carlisle used to sing with. It's more of a feel kind of thing. Shit, I don't know why I brought it up. Now you won't play this. It's all my fault. I'm sorry, guys. Your album rules.

Why is this great album so far back in the issue? Well, all of you are going to play it, for one reason. Another is that over half of the songs on here have been released before, and the covers aren't really the reason for the album. They're funny, but not anything special.

I know they put the little asterisk after "Kill Yourself" as a joke, but still. This is the true soundtrack to the movie Bob Roberts (a must-see). In the words of a friend of mine, "Somewhere in there it stopped being funny and started getting scary." There are idiots who believe every word of "Speak English or Die." Like Pat Buchanan, a real Nazi for our times. Enjoy the joke, but realize some people believe the bullshit.

As you may have surmised from my thoughts on the cassette advance, I loved this album. Now, don't get me wrong; this isn't a new sound or even terribly original. It's just damn fun. If clubs around here would play this album, I would dance for a long. I would probably destroy what is left of my knees.

Sure, "Chemical Imbalance" is positively infectious, but as that is an old song, the rest of the album contains the test. And it passes. While it is currently PC to hate racism and not be sexist, I also agree with these sentiments.

One weird thing: I get a real Gwar kinda vibe off this. Sorta like the Go-Go's thing with the Offspring. No good reason, but it's there. Thought I should mention that.

This is their new direction, or so says the press. Well, then I like it. C/Z has done a job presenting the top pop bands in the northwest, and the Treepeople are at the apex of that heap. Nice, discordant pop music that finds its way into your soul. Take your Superchunk and Pavement, I'll keep my Treepeople (actually, since I can, I'll take all three). This is what college music is all about.

P.S. This is CZ 50. A collectors notice.

Four of Seattle's finest (and heaviest) are combined on this release. Hey, just because Seattle has been deemed the hippest place in the world by MTV doesn't mean every decent "alternative" soul has left town. I know it's tough to work with all that Hollywood attention, but these four bands have done just that.

A word of advice: put this slab o' delicious vinyl on and crank it to eleven. You'll be glad you did.