Pleasure to Burn
Mentored by no less thanMetallica's Lars Ulrich (who originally signed the San Francisco quartet to his Music Company label), Systematic continues to thrash aggressively against the contemporary rap-metal current. Their sophomore release is bolstered considerably by the new rhythm section of Paul Bostaph (ex-Slayer) and bassist Johnny Bechtel, who provide a solid, propulsive groove that allow the songs of guitarist/vocalist Tim Narducci and lead guitarist Adam Ruppel to explore a landscape that's as melodic as it is driving and often texturally compelling. But if the musical tack here is rooted in driving, old-school metal histrionics that both spansBlack Sabbathand Metallica (Narducci's snarl often possessing a Hetfield-esque urgency) and skips the Limp-Linkin bandwagon, there's still a nagging sense that we've heard much of it before. Still, Narducci and Ruppel deserve credit for anchoring their agro-metal angst--the grinding grooves of "Shine" and "Infected," dark-emo rumblings of "Leaving Only Scars" and the shadowy, hypnotic respite of "Right Before You"--in honest musical frameworks instead of cheap attitude and production affectations. Sophomore albums are notoriously problematic, but this one's shortcomings seem minor in the scope of things and may form the foundation for greater things to come.--Jerry McCulley