Earshot - Two - Music & Performance - CD

On their sophomore effort, Earshot takes a look at where it's been and moves ahead. Where Letting Go was accused of being little more than a Tool clone, Two breaks out of that mold. That's particularly evident in Will Martin's vocals, which have emerged from the heavy processing that made him sound, inadequately, like Maynard James Keenan. He's his own man now, and Earshot is becoming its own band with its very own heavy metal axe to grind.

No self-respecting metal album would be without a good break-up song. There are several to choose from here, and "Someone" is one of the best ever. All the pain, lies, broken promises, manipulation and screaming are tunefully, melodically presented here with driving rhythm and grinding guitar riffs -- with surprising thoughtfulness.

The band doesn't let up for more than the instant between tracks. The intensity rises with "Rotten Inside." This is a break-up song with an "it's my fault" twist and it works just fine. Just turn it up and blow your anger out the door. Earshot is here to help you burn up that bad energy (even if you may have to find a more upbeat album to get back in a good mood).

"Down" offers up some of the best riffs on the album. Seething with anger and fueled with fury (maybe it's not a happy message but the hook is hard to resist). It's another one that's easy to put into radio rotation and another one that just can't be played loud enough. The energy just roars.

The first real breather we get is the opening of "Goodbye." There's a sinister, tension-building but mild guitar that opens the song. It doesn't last long but it returns throughout the song, making it one of the most explosive tunes on the album.

Two is a respectable second effort. The band's sound has evolved stylistically, sonically and even lyrically from their first album. Earshot has wisely gone out on tour with Saliva for the summer, which should solidify their market share. The two bands will benefit, feeding off each other's incendiary live performances. That's more than just your average rock show. It's a metal head's dream come true.

By Ian Reif