Replicator
Replicator EP
2002 Psychotic Astronaut
www.replicator5000.com
"Replicator is a three piece independent ROCK band" or so says the
first line of their bio on the Replicator website. ROCK is a pretty good description
for this Bay Area band who crank out the tunes with all of the blood and gristle
reminiscent of a cattle-drive colliding with a freight train. When I first
got an earful of the trio at the Smell in Los Angeles, I thought I was 16
again listening to a set ala Touch N' Go records (yeah, that's right- Big
Black, Jesus Lizard, TAR, etc...you know when bands were made of real men
playing "real man songs"). Replicator explodes into each track on
this self-titled EP with the power of an atom bomb dropped twice. The guitar
(only one guys? Come on!) is in a constant angry duet with the heavy trudging
bass lines that cruise relentlessly alongside boot-stomping percussion. The
tracks are interspersed with tasty little tape loops, which seem more tongue
n' cheek than for effect. Despite playing some seriously heavy music, the
boys in Replicator seem to understand that they're a little silly, and in
today's limp-wristed, uber-Emo world, a tad too strong for the thrift-store
set. If you're feeling anemic and in need of more meat in your diet, than
Replicator is the special dish you crave. But if you like your Broccoli over
a good hearty steak and bacon sandwich- stay home please.
-John Southern