CMJ As Good As Dead

The most unbelievable thing about Local H is that it's comprised of only two members. Bands with twice the amount of Local H's manpower can only hope to slam out a sound that's half as huge and powerful as the wild surge of rhythms propelled by vocalist/guitarist Scott Lucas and drummer Joe Daniels. Although Local H began as a four-piece in the spring of 1987, Joe and Scott decided not to replace their bassist and second guitarist when they left shortly thereafter. In order to make up for the very crucial missing bass element in their funky, groove-laced sound, Scott decided to use a bass pick-up in his guitar that is fed through a bass amplifier, in addition to hooking up his guitar to a standard guitar amplifier, so it sounds as if he's playing both bass and guitar at the same time. The resulting sound is both unique and amazingly robust. If you didn't know any better, you'd never guess it was one person making both the incredible, jarring riffs and deeprooted bass grinds at the same time, not to mention from the same instrument! Metal crowds may recall Local H's last, debut album as being a bit too funky/alternative-oriented for the headbangin' crowd, but the band's sophomore effort, As Good As Dead, is much heavier and tighter all around. The album still includes a fair amount of softer, groovier tunes, as well as a few funk-riddled, pop-strewn rockers which are guaranteed to be gobbled up by alternative and mainstream audiences alike. Metallers should check out the raging scorch-'n'-burn of "High Fiving Mother-Fucker," the crazed, explosive blast of "I Saw What You Did And I Know Who You Are," the ragged, selfloathing, indie-rock stomp of "Nothing Special" and the distorted, careening spin of "Back In The Day."

Jenni Glenn