THORN.ELEVEN

I'm not sure whether it's a crime to play fashionable music in a place where it isn't popular. That's precisely what the guys in THORN.ELEVEN (also known as THORN.11) have been doing for several years now — living in Germany and churning out music classified as contemporary American rock. Or nu-rock, since metal doesn't even have a whiff of a presence here. The closest comparisons would be CRAZY TOWN and 3 DOORS DOWN. However, while the first of those bands made its name more through scandal than music, and the second, as they say, fell "victim to circumstance" after catching the attention of a trendy producer, THORN.ELEVEN started quietly and anonymously, releasing album after album under SPV's wing. At this point the band's discography counts two full-lengths and this single, "Bastard Former Self," which contains just one track from the forthcoming album. It certainly has pretensions to being an international anthem, but it's built like solid iron: a raspy voice, lively guitar chords soaring over a tight, steady rhythm. And even if THORN.ELEVEN bring nothing new within their chosen style, the quality and professionalism of the recording prove that the band members have completed their development as musicians. Going forward, we're expecting growth and a powerful breakthrough.