Quicksand forge out a dense, metallic grind that sounds like a more streamlined version of Fugazi. The band’s debut, Slip, relies more on metal than punk, but that makes the music all the more effective — the group’s attempts at punky fury simply aren’t as strong as their brutal, gut-level heavy riff-rockers. Vocalist Walter Schreifels spews out enough angst-ridden lyrics, but what is important is how his voice fits into the dense wall of sound. Quicksand’s music is about powerful anger, and the persistent, bludgeoning Slip delivers the goods. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine