Stylus: Painkillers

By REBECCA BARRY

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Could these guys be the next Blindspott? Judging by their melodic rap-metal-punk, Kapisi-like beats, and the fact their bass player and drummer took care of that band's album production, it wouldn't be surprising if these West Aucklanders had to hire bodyguards to keep their Indonesian fans at bay in a year's time.

And while the thought of yet another band attempting to out-formularise the over-burdened nu metal genre could put some off, Stylus are as sophisticated and cutting-edge as their name suggests.

Sure, two of the first three singles, Sick Of This and Everywhere, possess a certain scowling skater 'tude, but the rest of the album is as lively and unpredictable as their influences. There are hints of Faith No More throughout, a whiff of Supergroove on the horrendously catchy third single What We Do, and a DJ Shadow eeriness to the keyboards on Demons.

And despite the album title and the names of the songs - What Could Be the Matter with Me? and Have One For Me, I'm Dying - there is nothing self-pitying or boorish about Stylus. At times, vocalist Matt Samuels sounds more like a prozac-munching Zach de la Rocha than a grandiose Chad Kroeger, suggesting on Turn It Up, "This situation is disgusting like a naked big fat hairy man".

Well, this situation certainly isn't. Big brownie points for a confident, original debut and a name that's spelled how it sounds.

Label: Wildside