Maximum Rock'n'Roll #285 - February 2007

STNNNG - "Fake Fake" CD

This band is absolutely the sum of its influences--not a bad thing if your influences are NOMEANSNO, SHELLAC and THE JESUS LIZARD. I've listened to this twice now, and while the sound is definitely punishing, I can't say any particular song grabbed me. There's a lot going on and they definitely push the rock factor full-time, perhaps lacking the dynamics of some of the bands I mentioned. This is '90s underground rock like they can only do in the Midwest, although thousands of Germans every year try to replicate the effect. I imagine they are amazing live. (AM)
(Modern Radio, PO Box 8886, Minneapolis, MN 55408, www modern-radio.com)