D.I.Y. triumvirate
Heros Severum's full-length debt brims with minimalism and moxie. Without a bass player to provide the harmonic anchor, guitarists Sherryl A. Branch and Eric Friar utilize strong lower-register riffs, noise, and polyrhythmic phrases to construct quirky, abrasive songs. Friar and Branch talk-sing throughout most of the record, which at times becomes tedious and repetitive, though Branch's solo vocal on "Rail Against the Contraption" affords a much-needed dose of melody, as does "Bear in the Circus." The frenetic punk blues romp "A Better Man" and the short, sleepy orchestral instrumental "Out of the Round" are fine testimonies to the band's yen for experimentation. ~ Tom Semioli