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40 Below Summer emerged in 1998 from the local circuit of the New Jersey underground. They released an indie album entitled Sideshow Freaks which soon found its way to the hands of No Name Management, (Slipknot, Fear Factory), and a management deal soon followed. After coast to coast showcases the labels came calling, and the band soon inked a deal with London/Sire Records. After hooking up with producer GGGarth Richardson (Mudvayne, Kittie) they holed up in the studio and created Invitation To The Dance, which dropped on September 11th and was mixed by Toby Wright (Korn, Primus), and ex-produced by Shawn Crahan (#6 of Slipknot).

"We The People" immediately gets your attention with its heavy bass and then slaps you in the face with brutal force. A classic metal anthem about fighting for reality, and standing up for what you believe in, it mingles between melodic and crushing. I have a feeling that if I went to see 40 Below Summer live I would end up bloody in the pit during this song. “Rope" jumps right in with shredding guitar, a catchy melodic line intertwined with ruthless vocals from Max Illedge. In the last verse Illedge’s voice drops into a psychotic whisper that will make the hair stand up on your arms like a killer ghost story. When he screams “I’m at the end of my rope!” you believe him. Next is “Still Life”, where bass and guitar begin a duel of psychotic aggression, yet the song is catchy enough to have mainstream appeal. The mixture of vocal effects kind of sounds like Korn on LSD, although the music itself is not in the least bit Korny.

The next track is. "Wither Away". For a hardcore band most would call this the “slow” song on the album, but I think it is exquisite, and especially poignant for me, having just lost a close friend. It is a song about loss, told from the depth of sadness, a sadness that could brim over into screaming rage. It’s acoustic driven, woven with a haunting melody, and it broke my heart. It was almost as if I wrote the words “And I wither away and die ...Tomorrow's just another day to cry….I wither away and die...Clip my wings...without you I can't fly” I feel his pain and Rage midsong when he dissolves into brutal, emotional vocals that drop suddenly back into the melody. I had to listen to it over and over again, “What if life were a dream - Would you be there waiting for me -Suicide in a sleep - I'd rather die and have you miss me. Clip my wings...without you I can't fly…”.

The next track is a ruthless dive into "Step Into The Sideshow”, where it’s apparent that Carlos Aguirre's drumming is a huge part of their dynamic sound, and the vocals change, showing the true diversity of this quintet, with rhythmic rap vocals combined with raging screams and a ferocious team of drums, speed guitar, and heavy bass. The next track, “Falling Down" starting off fast, heavy and brutal, and then melodic ambiance takes over the bridge and chorus to slow it down, it’s definitely got that crack/valium element! It manages to switch the mood without hurting the integrity of the song. The tempo shifts and drops and loops around you weaving an intricate web of pain beautifully offset by stunning harmonies and melodic choruses.

The middle of the album features “Smile Electric” which is your typical hardcore, blended with a little tribal drumming, frantic screams, and techno effect. Next up is “Rejection”, a groove oriented trippy piece about being rejected (of course) the groove melts into a screaming rage, an unmerciful lyrical attack that is sick “You really didn't think I'd let you walk away from me - Just one more time - I need to feel your lips around this piece - If you could come my way - what could I do to make you stay - Then you could penetrate my life - then you'd rip me up inside.” The end incorporates more of the dark brooding style and rap styled groove. Then it slows down again for “Power Tool” a beautiful song until you really hear the lyrics, delivered with pained emotion and brutal honesty you cant mistake what its about “I can't feel the way you want me to - I'll use you, abuse you - don't confuse - what I say - I took you - then threw you away - You're through - don't misconstrue - what I said - All I wanted was just a little head…It’s just my power tool.”

The tenth track, “Drown” switches back to dark, moody and flowing melodies complete with the sound of being underwater and the rattle of a snake. The conclusion is the rap screams of “Minus One”, a ferocious tirade of anger and hate, and “Jonesin“, a scary nightmare of intended venom. This is a very, very angry band. Yet they manage to achieve A delicate balance between emotional fury and rage, and a love for passion, beauty and grace. To sum it up, this whole album is a marriage of brutally heavy and hauntingly melodic music. If you feel music from the inside of you, you HAVE to buy this album.

If you are just an average listener, who compares all bands in the same genres and buys whatever is “In” you still HAVE to buy this album. If you don’t, you’re a loser.