UNSANE

The album cover shows a corpse wrapped in blood smeared plastic in the middle of a field. Right, it's the new album from New York legends UNSANE. Having made the jump from Relapse to an even more-fitting label in Ipecac, UNSANE follows up the stick-to-what-got-us-there "Blood Run" with an album in "Visqueen" that cleans up the sound just enough (without abandoning the trio's patented rumble and groove) to bring out the melodies, if just a hair more. Melody-wise, the difference one notices comes not only from better structuring, but also from a backing away from vocal effects. In other words, the vocals are still gruff as hell and pain inducing, just a tad more accessible.

Lest anyone bemoan this, for lack of a better term, "cleaner" sound, as an UNSANE fan myself, I'm here to tell you that "Visqueen" is not a rejection of the band's urban street rat style by any stretch of the imagination. Exemplifying the good things that happen when a trio moves as one and still offering the listener the scent of urban decay, "Visqueen" is, if anything, merely a refinement of a unique style. The rhythm section of bassist/vocalist Dave Curran and drummer Vincent Signorelli continues to pound away, the pronounced four-string work in particular again delivered with a mix of near hypnotic roll and fat groove. Chris Spencer's guitar playing continues to be as real as it gets, a semi-abrasive tone and the manner in which his performance is more about "feeling it" than simply "playing it" still a highpoint. When he's not chunking it up over top those earthy rhythms, he's sliding all over the place, a welcome change from your average, paint by numbers, leads. Several songs are worthy of note because of songwriting that keeps the choruses simple and memorable. "Against the Grain" is assuredly a highlight and certain to remain in the band's set for years to come. "This Stops at the River" is a close second, superbly accented with what sounds like a harmonica (unless the boys have discovered an uncannily similar guitar effect). "Only Pain" is quite catchy as well, as is "Eat Crow", though the latter moves at a quicker, more rambunctious, pace. An eight-minute instrumental called "East Broadway" is a hypnotic plodder that works as a fitting end to the proceedings.

Unless you are a staunch traditionalist, there is no reason why UNSANE fans wouldn't want to grab a copy of "Visqueen" when it's released on March 13. The sound remains comfortably familiar, but does more than replicate past efforts. Two word review: cool disc.