Third Harmonic Distortion

Sift through an endless pile of new CDs. You come in search of that heretofore unknown band that will jump out of your speakers. Amidst the OKs, nice-tries, maybe-laters, totally-mediocres, and just-plain-awfuls, Third Harmonic Distortion springs right out. Without breaking new ground, this Baltimore foursome believes that crunching, weighty post-punk rock can still be propulsive and, despite the heavy pound, soaring. Songs such as "Last Song From a Sinking Ship" and "Damn the Wrinkly Rug" contain lead guitar parts that form mighty countermelodies of their own, with a clarity and edge that hits one in the gut. Like a cross between Squirrel Bait, Moving Targets, Bloodsport, Proletariat, and early Adolescents, with a little Sebadoh, those guitars keep coming at you, wonderfully, magically, climbing up your back, rushing down your face like a shower, lifting you off your chair. (A reinvented, loud cover of Talking Heads' 1977 classic "Psycho Killer" is the CD's "hidden track," and also shows knowledge, taste, and a larger periscope than far too many such groups.) THD's hooks thus stab like a dozen needles, while the considerable rhythm section and the melodically shouted vocals add to the controlled and crispy pummeling. This band is a comer. Finally!