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Nov 03, 2015 Web Exclusive By Hays Davis

Don’t let the title of this Christchurch, New Zealand band’s debut album fool you. Metalmania finds the trio varying their intensity between songs, though they’re all melodic exercises built to stick with you after a few spins.

Echoes of R.E.M. ripple here and there, as with the driving “Dream Date.” That’s before “Daytime Television” comes along and dismisses the connection, maintaining a subdued, gallop-beat tension and then letting go, unexpectedly, with a friendly synth break of one-note punches.

Rather than intricate solos, the guitar thrills on the album usually come with well-built swells, where the group seems able to fill every square inch of their studio with agreeably dense sound. A highlight is “No Taste Bomber,” which finds Salad Boys flying along with minimal drums and electric guitar before locking into a groove and chasing it straight to nirvana. Arrival time is within five minutes, making it an ideal trip for those on a schedule. (www.saladboys.bandcamp.com)

Author rating: 7/10