Greasy jean jacket motor rock that grew up stoned on Sabbath. When AC/DC proclaimed, "Let there be rock" - it most assuredly included the pure adrenaline of blistering guitar licks and grumbly monster truck rhythms of the Nebula brand. Because this is rock. Simple and lean, straight to it. The grinding 70s big fuzz of the opener and title track, "To the Center" basically thrusts the core of the Nebula influence out onto the floor and dares you to mock it. One more step to the left, and I'd have to dismiss this as contemporary Sabbath. But Nebula just rock too dirty and real to hold their influences against them. Plus the guitar fix is tasty on both the riffs and lead snakes as well as the moodier slow temptations that tend to drift along their own distractions rather than toggle between loud and soft for effect.

Nebula can get enough "effect" by just throwing down the full throttle rock. "Freedom" is a standout track with its drum circle beat and dripping guitar runs (its bridges aren't as cool, but the meat of the song is stony intelligence and pushes them more into the "space rock" rag). For all that might be lost in structure (Nebula stick to the "rock" formula almost to fault), it is made up for in attitude. Which is what rock is about anyway. One chord and a shitload of attitude goes further than most music tech grads. Sabbath with Ted Nugent working the leads. And some amphetamines because most Nebula songs rip along with a good deal of pulse. Nebula aren't without their faults as the bluesy, "I Need Somebody" is a sleeper. And the following, "So Low" crawls along only a bit faster.

Nebula are a much better pill when they run at maximum RPM's as the rest is wading through mud (with the next track keeping them stuck in the slow pace and one can feel the album lose its speed when it hits this section of songs). "You Mean Nothing" closes the disk with a rocking thump and kicks in with a rousing "Yeah!" that doesn't sound cliché'. And that is rock. Always gots to likes the rock. This is a pure fix with some proven formulas, so unless you're experienced - take in small doses for maximum trip.