Xrayok

This six-song CD is the second release from Arizona’s xrayok, and taking an educated guess after hearing their dark rock style, it’s likely that this quartet spent some time listening to UK bands like Muse and Radiohead. This puts them in difficult company, especially with so many bands making nods to post-punk, the UK indie scene or ’90s Brit rock sound. On Like Life, xrayok don’t necessarily forge anything completely unique, but there are some great moments here, particularly for an EP from a young band. "Doesn’t Matter” and "Sunshine” have a great shimmering guitar sound that propels these rather straightforward songs up into the light. TJ Hill’s soaring vocals are thankfully not buried in production, and there is a great groove underneath it all. An intense, catchy and promising release.