Reviewed by Simon Eden

Kiss goodbye to your eardrums and say hello to the dents in the wall where your head was. Dove Award winners East West are back with their second studio release. This four piece band from Los Angeles deserve respect for being right up there with the likes of P.O.D., especially if they can maintain their integrity amongst the nu-metal scene. They even know where the volume control is and aren’t out to destroy their vocal chords; at least not all the time. You could even sing along, even though the lyrical content seems a little depressive. ‘Hope In Anguish’ sums it up. The guitars are as loud and driving as you might expect and they know when to drop out to leave the atmospheric synthesiser. There is even a little Arabian influence that might surprise some. The drums are sharp and mixed high, but are probably the weakest aspect. You can head bang along at times, but there is only occasionally enough up-tempo rifts to get the mosh pit slam dancing. Seeing them live is probably to be recommended over buying the album. Best enjoyed loader than your stereo can handle. Great for annoying your parents, the neighbours, and for making the windows blow out.

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