FAIR TO MIDLAND: The Drawn & Quartered EP (Serjical Strike)

YOU may not have heard of this Texan band, but that's likely to change since System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian signed them to his label, Serjical Strike. It's not hard to see the similarities between them and their new employer in this CD of demos and live tracks. Haunting piano quickly makes way for driving guitars and then back again in the opening track, Orphan Anthem '86, and there's more of the same in the second, Kyla Cries Cologne. But SOAD fans may find it all a bit familiar, but the difference lies in singer Darroh Sudderth's vocals, which lack the dirty guts roughness Tankian has perfected in his own band. Fair to Midland is currently recording tracks for its first album due out in 2007, reportedly under former Tool and Silverchair producer David Bottrill. It will be interesting to see if the band can turn its demos into hits.

PETRA STARKE