Snapcase

With the ever-evolving, forever revolving line-up change saga continuing for the Buffalo, NY legends, this 12-track collection of outtakes, covers and remixes could either be a between album stopgap measure or the band's swan-song. The disc features five Brian McTernan-produced tracks that were recorded for but for some strange reason didn't make the final version of the End Transmission disc. Strange only because they are more than just disposable leftovers. The Deftones-influenced "Dress Rehearsal" and the disco-metal throwdown "New Academy" are better than some of what made it onto the finished product. Also included are newly recorded covers of Jane's Addiction's "Mountain Song,” Helmet's "Blacktop" and the killer Devo tracks "Freedom of Choice" and "Gates of Steel.” There are also three Aphex Twin-inspired mash-ups that serve as interesting transition tracks, although not nearly as interesting as the choice of covers that were all recorded this past summer. They really capture the band's divergent influences and hint at the less hardcore, more melodic direction the band has been heading in with each album since their landmark 1993 gem Lookingglassself.