Maximum Metal Rating Legend

These US brick heads are a bit of a bastard child really. Adrenaline Mob is singer Russell Allen (Symphony X, Atomic Soul, Allen/Lande), drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater) and guitarist Mike Orlando (maybe BLS?). The band began plowing in 2011 with Fozzy members Rich Ward on guitar and Paul DiLeo on bass. Since then out with Ward (scheduling conflicts) and DiLeo (replaced by Disturbed driller John Moyer. To show the difference between the US and Europe markets...the debut album hits domestic shores via unknown label Elm City Music; Europe gets wide distro through powerhouse Century Media.

"Omertà" is the debut from the band and the fully stocked recording that cultivated on the band's EP last year (featured a stout cover of Sab's "Mob Rules"). Fans of modern down tuned heaviness will find plenty to like and absorb on the band's stomping grooves "Hit The Wall" and "Undaunted", the latter circling for days in my brain upon first consumption. Russell Allen is really out of the box here, self described "bouncing to these grooves" with a present day culture of Disturbed/BLS as the main influence here. The riffs on these cuts are really groove oriented and remind me of what Drowning Pool was doing years ago but with Allen's powerful authority behind the mic. Check out "Psychosane" with its pinch harmonics galore or the Throwdown styled "Feelin' Me".

Adrenaline Mob might sound as if they are too modern but the band effectively mingles hard rock into the intense riffing. The band really nails the melodic power ballad "Angel Sky" and Allen shows off a more emotional sound on "Indifferent". My favorite cut is the cover of Duran Duran's "Come Undone" featuring a guest appearance of Halestorm's Lizzy Hale.