One of the exciting bands that came out of Britain’s alternative metal underground in the early ’90s was Fudge Tunnel, whose Hate Songs in E Minor appealed to thrash and grindcore audiences despite the fact that it is neither. Blistering, noisy items like “Gut Rot,” “Tweezers,” and “Soap and Water” are really too slow to be considered thrash or grindcore, but because the trio packs such a raw, jagged, punk-influenced punch, the same headbangers who were moshing to Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, and Gwar in the early ’90s also proved receptive to Fudge Tunnel. Punk’s naked aggression is a major influence on this CD, which favors rawness all the way and is without a trace of slickness — Hate Songs in E Minor was hardly recorded with Poison and Warrant fans in mind. But Fudge does acknowledge more mainstream rock with inspired, punk-minded interpretations of Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” and Ted Nugent’s “Cat Scratch Fever” — in fact, the trio dedicates this album to the Motor City Madman. Hate Songs in E Minor is a reckless, in-your-face gem that fans of alternative metal should make a point of searching for. – Alex Henderson