Pax 217 is a band for the masses. These guys rock, reggae, and rap extremely hard. They deliver a sonic assault via a wall of distorted guitars. At times Pax 217 checks in with a
Blink 182, hip-hop groove à la "Check 217." At other times their rap tunes are in your face like the Beastie Boys of old. Their finest moments are often their heaviest ones. Cuts like "Prism" and "A.M." really hit the mark. On the tunes "Skwid" and "Free to Be," the band strides into reggae mode and fires on all cylinders. The last cut on
Twoseventeen is the passionate "Until the Sun." Musically, the song is reminiscent of
the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The melody leaves an indelible impression in the memory banks and makes for a sweet dessert after a hearty meal. One thread woven throughout the disc is vocal excellence. Lead singer Dave Tosti is outstanding. The background vocals on
Twoseventeen are so well polished that it's amazing these guys are relative newcomers. Stylistically, Pax 217 is seamless. They are able to mix raw intensity with the gospel and deliver their message through a variety of grooves and styles. ~ Steven Losey