Oracle
OnSpit, Kittie's  1999 debut, the just-out-of-high-school all-female quartet were an anomaly,  giving the male-dominated metal scene a run for its money thanks to the Canadian  lineup's near death-metal heaviness. On sophomore outingOracle, minus  original guitarist Fallon Bowman, Kittie rock harder than ever, yet lack the  memorable songs required from a band of any gender or genre. In songs like  "Mouthful of Poison," Morgan Lander's often ethereal, decidedly feminine vocals  contrast with bassist Talena Atfield's death-metal growls. That, along with  ferocious double-bass drums and extreme aggression, are the band's hallmarks,  broken up by a Kittie-ized cover ofPink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" and "Safe," a spare, spooky  and excellent departure in a sea of heavy sameness. Ultimately,Oracle's  most redeeming quality is that of a role model for frustrated teenage girls,  proving that, indeed, women are allowed to vent their rage and compete with men  on the same playing field.--Katherine Turman