Posted on: August 3, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Though not exactly prolific, Australia’s Sick Puppies know how to pace themselves. Though the band has been around since 1997, Tri-Polar marks only their second full length. With a dozen songs, the band makes the most out of the time they are given in the studio. Reminiscent of mid-to-late 90’s alternative rock – mixing everything from metal to pop rock – the band sounds like a blend of Silverchair and Stone Temple Pilots, with a slight nod to the Smashing Pumpkins.

Lyrically, the songs may not strive for poetry, but the band still churns out a particular fun brand of head-nodding hard rock. Songs like the agro-heavy “Survive,” which owes a little too much to meathead nu-metal groups like Limp Bizkit and Staind, seem a little out of place on an otherwise strong record, but the weaker tracks are more an exception than the rule.

Top tracks: “In It for Life” and “Don’t Walk Away”

Rating: 7 out of 10

Sick Puppies – Tri-Polar/CD/2009/12 tracks/Virgin/www.sickpuppies.net

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