Burning the Process

Process Four-Five tries to bring back the alternative metal sounds of the mid-'90s on Burning the Process, their debut for Dreamworks Records. With song titles like "Beat the World" and "Melt Me Down," it is easy to understand what these songs are conveying. This sort of depressing, melodic metal had its moment in the sun with bands like Paw, Failure, and Helmet. There is a strong Helmet influence on much of the material, but with a healthy edge that brings to mind vintage Life of Agony on certain tracks. This blend is most impressive on "Stares," a depressing song that breaks into a vicious scream one moment, then shifts into a moody, angular guitar part as singer Adam Rich laments being stared at. Rich's voice is the high point of the album, an emotive tool that often sounds like Helmet's Page Hamilton, but also brings to mind indie rock bands such as Jawbox. The songs that step into rap-metal territory, like the repetitive "Even Worse," are the only low points of an otherwise impressive debut. This is an album that presents a band with a lot of promise and ambition, and will appeal to fans of the aforementioned bands as well as anyone interested in well-crafted, quality heavy metal.