When Canadian noise punk trio METZ released their eponymous debut in 2012 I was indifferent. I thought it was good, but never thought it was anything revolutionary or radical. The albums 10 songs were straightforward grungy noise rock with a hardcore twist. An amalgam of other Sub Pop releases from the last 20 years. However, I recently gave their new LP simply called "II" a listen and I was floored. The power and sincerity I never noticed on their first album was readily apparent on their sophomore effort. Sharp, jagged opener "Acetate" sets the tone for the rest of the album with it's shaky vocals, whiny guitar strings, and a bass line that feels more like a kick to the face as it drives the music forward. Other stand out moments include the adrenaline fueled "I.O.U" and the sporadic tempo shifts of "Spit You Out". METZ finishes strong with "Kicking a Can of Worms"; a song that builds and builds before erupting like the violent volcano it is. You're hypnotized by the repetitive droning noise as the band leaves you with a farewell letter that shows they are more than just your average rock band. It ends up representing what makes METZ great. Using a variety of musical building blocks, the band incorporates the influences of 90's Seattle in a way that doesn't sound forced or overexposed. Their live show is supposed to be a smorgasbord of whipping hair, metal riffs, and a sludgy rhythm section which lets be real, is the perfect cocktail for mind altering rock and roll. A recent stop in Boston at the Sinclair saw the band playing with 2015 breakout band Bully and up and coming Seattle rockers So Pitted. Really wish I had been paying more attention to this band but they've certainly hooked me now. It's what rock is supposed to sound like in 2015.
