Thanks to the high-decibel exposure I’ve been getting from local bands, harder and harder rock is appealing to me more and more. So The Sammus Theory came to the top of the stack at just the right time. Great sounds riding the edge of metal and lyrics riding the edge of insanity.

I almost didn’t get past the fourth track on the CD because the 2, 3 and 4 tracks were so compelling and brain-frying I kept putting them on a loop. “Lead Foot” is the best tortured romantic love song I’ve heard in eons - and believe me, I know eons. Here’s a taste:

“You try to drag me but I’m weighted
with my lead foot.
A ball and chain around my legs slows me down,
I cannot seem to move.
Drop me up from so high into water …
Watch me drown; you’re my lead foot.”

Beautiful, I know (sniff). Sammus, responsible for both lyrics and manic vocals, has a unique twist to his words that speaks to a deeper part of my brain. And I’m not so strange. I think your brains must have those dark little holes you crawl into sometimes and hey, here’s the background music for that space.

“Hole In the Wall” is a perfect example of speaking volumes with few words.

“Your last breath cried out loud.
It was a bullet hole in the wall.
No one really understood
What pulled the trigger …”

Although the first half of “Man Without Eyes” is much stronger and memorable than the second half, my greatest whining complaint is that I was sent the radio-edited, clean version of the lyrics. Should an independent CD even have a clean version? Did they send the sanitized version because I’m a chick? Did I come off as a prude in my past reviews? I must look into this while you look into The Sammus Theory.

Just got handed Little Daytona’s “The Freshman Class” - can I say one more time the talent in this town amazes me?

Little Daytona brings together Blackjack, K-nyne, Kialie and L.nix in a 13 song CD that mixes everything from hardcore rap, the smoothest of hip hop - and don’t kill me if I say it - a fine instrumental trance number that made my pathetic day shine.

From the CD, I’d judge that these killers’ live show would be more than GJ deserves. The slide from Kialie and Blackjack’s “Fed Up” into the too hot “Switchz” was as smooth as belly skin. Then the drop from “Switchz” to the transcendent “Abduction” … sweet cool down.

And you hardheaded hardcore lovers will surely be pleased by the just-so-nasty “On the Low.” If not, I think you must be posing.

Although the CD has the PA for explicit lyrics, don’t think these artists depend on the F-word and its variations to carry their lyrics. There’s plenty of intelligence and art to their words. Seems like you can’t be real at all these days without getting a parental advisory.

I’m glad I got the chance to hear this and I’m gonna keep an eye out for their next show. If you can’t wait - and why should you? - you can pick up the CD from Four Front Entertainment.