Assuming many reading this haven't as yet purchased Guano Apes' new disc, here's a little rundown. The first obvious comparison to be drawn is one with Skunk Anansie, another female led Heavy Rock/Alternative/Industrialized hybrid with vindictive subject matter and unyielding emotive frequencies. Guano Apes are in very much the same vein and they're equally as good at what they do. Plenty of extracurricular noise and funky back beats supply the large boost of flavor that supports an otherwise loud Rock kick and the fact that the rhythm section's of German heritage is no small matter -- they can play and Sandra Nasic can pour out the words with the best of 'em. "The Banshee" as she's known internally, is quite an accurate depiction -- as far as the rest go, "The Quiet One," "The Clown," and "The Thinker," I won't comment. They did well on their debut a couple years back, "Proud Like a God," which in itself had its moments -- at least 100,000 or so judging by sales in America, and thus their acceptance by the cutting edge community, and a whopping two million worldwide led by the hit "Open Your Eyes," and "Lords of the Board." Still got a ways to go in the states however-but hooking up with the likes of Sevendust and Creed certainly can't hurt -- and so what if they do, they're key element is they write catchy, oft disturbing, occasionally sweet songs that maintain their substance long after the final studio effects have worn off -- there's a solidity in their music that defies either categorization or the typically trendy cash-in performance.

Each and every song here starts out differently and carries its own identity well -- something unheard of with much of today's new artists. As much as Nasic's searing, soothing and sometimes debilitating pitch defines much of their sound, the band as a whole is noticeably present.

"Living In A Lie" gives the first chance to lighten up a bit as the token ballad or two which sounds neither sappy nor shy -- it works amidst the rest of the tuneful ferocity.

"Dodel Up" follows. It's the first single and features a fiery anthemic chorus around a subdued tranquility that should prove a success… and if not, its follower "I Want It" has that similar quality that could do the job just as well. Don't get where the cover image falls in with this compu-generated image of an ant, up close and personal enough to shake… hands, and then "Don't Give Me Names…" and well truthfully I wasn't thinking of referring to it as anything else, so I guess I'm safe.

I like these guys -- for the same reason I like Skunk Anansie and really any other bands of today and that's simply that they write solid, interesting, stand alone songs with their own identity built on strength, not sales figures.