If you haven't heard The Hiss yet, then you soon will. Combining characteristics of Jet, Led Zeppelin and Radiohead (The Bends era in particular), these angst-ridden young adults from Atlanta, GA have recorded one of the loudest and most ferocious rock and roll albums that you're gonna hear in 2004. Tracks like "Clever Kicks", "Back on the Radio" and "Lord's Prayer" practically demand radio airtime. And most of the songs on the record are every bit as catchy as they are loud. The drums are pulse pounding and brutal, while the guitar and bass churn violently inside walls of crunchy distortion.
The Hiss's only identifiable weakness seems to be in their lack of variation. About halfway through Panic Movement the songs begin to sound more than a little repetitive. But just when you think you've heard one too many fist-shaking anthems, "Ghosts Gold", the strangely hypnotic six and half minute slow jam cuts through the noise and restores your interest right before the impressive, but awkwardly ending closer, "City People". Overall The Hiss's Panic Movement falls a few fathoms short of magnificent, but it's still pretty flippin' good.
3/4
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