Guitarist Eric Zimmerman traded his porn collection for a guitar and gave up a potential career in the FBI to move to Los Angeles and start a rock band. Were they the right decisions? Judging from the chunky sounds emanating from his self-titled, curiously named debut project Under-Radio, I think so. Of course, it helps to have Fates Warning drummer Mark Zonder and in-demand session bassist Matt Bissonette playing on many of the nine songs here. Plus, vocalist Robbie Wyckoff sounds amazingly like outstanding King’s X singer Doug Pinnick.
Most songwriting credits go to Zimmerman and various members of this ensemble, and the result is King’s X without the Beatlesesque harmonies, Fates Warning without the overtly progressive overtones, ZZ Top without the beards and Led Zeppelin without the balls. Amidst such catchy rockers as "Spinning Wheels" and "Bigger Fish to Fry" come introspective instrumentals like "How Was the Funeral?" and "Drinking Blood" – but that’s the charm of this eclectic album. You’re not sure what’s coming next.
With some decent promotion Stateside (the album was issued by Finland’s Lion Music), Under-Radio could fly under the radar and slowly find an audience. Don’t believe me? Listen to disc-opener "Acrobat," one of the year’s best metal songs …