Bionic Jive � Armageddon Through Your Speakers 
Label: Interscope
Rating: 
 

Not since Ice T's Body Count has a band immerged that so effectively fused hard rock and rap while staying true to both genre's. Many have tried and failed, let's face it a lot of the rap-rock bands on the scene today sound pretty much the same. That's why Bionic Jive thrives while others fail, like Public Ememy before them, their two MC's help break up the vocal sound, playing off each other, giving the songs two distinct flavors plied over hard rock that plain out rocks. Larry Love knows his rock leads, other modern guitarist whittle away their time pounding out power chords, Love instead immerses the songs with true leads that range from a Hendrix flavor to Slayer. 

Lyrically the band takes on a range of issues from the age old struggle between good and evil, today's social ills addressing topics that range from the drug war, school shootings, gang violence, poverty, racism, Vietnam, terrorism and they plant one straight in other rap-rock band's faces with "Shut �Em Down" offering their opinion of some of the other bands on the scene, "All I hear are rock bands with whack MC collaborations."  You won't find simple minded Missy Elliot rhymes here, Bionic Jive prove to the naysayers that rap lyrics and vocals can contain intricate melodies, well thought out structure and intelligent subject matter.  

I'm not a big fan of rap and loath rap-rock but there is absolutely no denying the quality with Bionic Jive. If they could capture the attention of a cynic like me, they are sure to take the rap-rock faithful by the throat and show all of those other bands in the genre how it's really done.