by Tom Demalon
Hailing from rural Massachusetts, Reveille is a five-piece band that draws on a range of influences ranging from Nirvana to Tool to Rage Against the Machine on their Elektra debut, Laced. Enlisting producer Steve Thompson (Korn, Metallica) was a good start, but unfortunately the end result is a mixed bag with many of the songs failing to pack the punch of their touchstones. Lead singer Drew Simollardes is more than adequate, but his lyrics, delivered in either in-your-face rants or solid rapping, fail to do much more than scratch the surface of the subject matter. This is a problem when addressing common themes like the evil of materialism on "Perfect World." The best moments are "Judas," with some savage drumming by J. Wilson; "Feel," which begins with a menacing intro before crashing into a grinding Wall of Sound; and "Aftertaste," where the use of quieter passages gives the records some much needed dynamic tension. With as much anger as Rage Against the Machine but less muscle and originality, Laced isn't worth much more than a cursory listen.