Various Artists
Songs From The Penalty Box (I & II)
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
(Tooth & Nail) Not a lot needs to be said about these samplers, which Tooth & Nail conveniently marks with a "Pay No More Than $6" tag. The label has a great roster, and each of these discs give us a 21-song sampling of the talent on Tooth & Nail, Solid-State, and BEC. The listen track-for-track is consistent and high-energy. Volume One gives curiosity-seekers the opportunity to decide for themselves if they're ready for the ultra-heavy sounds of Warlord and Zao. Those that have wondered if all the hype about Stavesacre is true can sample the band once on each disc, with "Shiv" from Friction and "An Eclipsing" from Absolutes. Brand new songs, like the "I Love Rock And Roll" cover by Ghoti Hook and the debut of the band Stretch Arm Strong make Volume Two a relevant and timely preview. The person who owns all of these releases already is left with a really good collection of "high-stick hits," but the person who doesn't have each of these bands is really served the hard music goods.