Rating: NNNN
Judging a book – or a CD, for that matter – by its cover is generally a bad idea. Case in point: Toronto metal band Endorphins and their latest disc, featuring a near absurdly ridiculous, bluntly symbolic picture of an “evil” businessman with claw hands surrounded by money. Is this some garbage Rage Against the Machine rip-off a decade too late? Far from it. The Ian Blurton-produced Where Evil Lies is a seriously aggressive and well-crafted record that covers the basics from thrash to new American metal with lots of chuggy goodness and violent energy. Vocalist Michael Amaral steals the show, alternating guttural growls and banshee screams, while the other three members fill in the sound so completely that you’d think the band was bigger than it is. Between these guys and Burn to Black, you gotta wonder if Toronto isn’t going through some kind of metal renaissance. Maybe they’ll rethink the cover art next time.
Endorphins destroy the Metal Bar Friday (December 1).
