I've held my peace about this one for a little while because when it came out it was getting a ton of hype and I'm not one to follow the herd, but when a band is doing something right, I can't not say something. Regulate's self-titled sophomore album lands the hit like a hook from a seasoned boxer, but what allows them to attack with such force is their finesse rather than a display of ferocity. The group can really hold the tension of a groove, allowing it to gain traction and get a running start before plunging into its intended payoff- like timing a manual gear shift in a desert drag race, it makes all the difference for their ability to pull ahead and assert their dominance. While whip-lash sweeps and brooding melodic churns a la Killing Time and Crown of Thorns are surely reference points for the band, they don't shy away from genuine, practiced showmanship either, discernable on the shaggy swagger and heavens piercing cry of the self-affirming ode "Hair," as well as the overly Latin psyche-grooves of "Ugata," and the vocal juggling act that just bearly keeps its self above the watery echo pulse that emanates from "Why Can't We"- each of these tracks contain unique theatric turns which electrify the mix and lend to an in your face feel that is more compelling then many live performances I've seen in recent years. To top it off, the band can still offer some satisfyingly savage twists on familiar punk sounds, like the lightening conducting pillar of Bad Brain's inspired fury of "You and I" and the East Cost hardcore screed-stomp of "New York Hates You." They call themselves Regulate, and it is with little irony that their prowess is revealed through their restraint and directed intention. God help us if they ever unleash the utter wrath of the potential pandamonium that clearly resides within them.
* You know the drill by now, indigo is today's color, and it inspired my review of Regulate's album because of their shared propensity to stain and enrich everything they come in contact with.
