Another crew of pierced and freaky-hairdoed young malcontents, Professional Murder Music add electronic clatter and industrial grind to their dense, radio-friendly modern rock sound. Less aggro than Slipknot, though moodier than their pals Static-X, these professionally murderous dudes offer up a polished self-titled debut that’s neither generic nor particularly original. The single “Slow” is certainly worthy of its moment in the sun, while the rest of the songs follow the same formula: a lot of build-up amid programmed bleeps and gargantuan guitar riffs to the inevitable fierce hook, laden with slick harmonies. But the band also attempts to conjure up a creepy horror movie vibe. (In fact, the track “Fall Again” was included in the soundtrack to the slasher flick Valentine.) At this, they’re less than successful, creating an atmosphere that’s about as scary as your average video game or Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode. – Adam Bregman
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