Stepa provides one of 2002's most accessible hard rock releases with their eponymous debut, an album that seemingly does everything right with the nu-metal formula. While the band is noticeably young (in fact, the average age of the bandmembers is only 19 years old), they seem to have a firm understanding of their surroundings and have let nothing deter them from their goal of recording an excellent album. The lead single, "Aquarium," is a hook-laden alternative rock behemoth weaving equal parts melody and aggression to capitalize on both, very different styles. Oftentimes Stepa's influences shine through the glossy veneer of these slick rock songs, as comparisons to
Taproot and
the Smashing Pumpkins are evident, yet Stepa never relies solely on these similarities to carry their album. The only real pitfalls of Stepa's debut are the almost laughable lyrics. The band still shows evidence that they need serious work in this area, as lyrics as embarrassingly immature as, "This little light of mine/I'm gonna let it shine" and "Someday we'll be cool/Just like a Rubix cube" make it hard to consider Stepa a major player in the hard rock scene. When they do succeed, Stepa delivers with gems like "Shine" and "Mountain," which excel at emotional alternative rock. With a little more attention toward the lyrical content, Stepa could easily be one of the best young bands on the music scene, and despite their weaknesses, this self-titled debut is an enjoyable listen. ~ Jason D. Taylor