Circa: Now
The ear-splitting drone that starts offCirca: Now!is a mere portent of the heaviness yet to come. Muscular, but with surprising melodic twists, this weirdo quintet hails from San Diego, where soaking up So-Cal hardcore influences is a matter of coming of age. Chunky rhythm guitars are the rule, augmented by honking sax and searing leads. It's quite an interesting mix, swinging between the wonderful, anthemic "Ditch Digger," the joyful racket of "Hairball Alley," and the all-out throb of "Sturdy Wrists." With names like Speedo, Apollo 9, and Petey X, it's difficult to take these guys seriously. But then, they're just too damn good to dismiss.--Mike Corrigan