ROCK PATROL - MACH 1 (Various Artists)

REVIEW by Alison Cummings

In this largely depressing half of the nineties (in which most real rock music has been killed off by people in suits), there is still hope. Not only do Van Halen and Aerosmith continue to rock n' roll down the path least taken nowadays, but rock also survives underground. And *underground* is of course where the rumblings are - the seismic activity before everything rightfully gets blown apart. Rock Patrol is a part of that rumbling, on a mission to play its part in putting rock bands where they belong.

Unsigned/independent bands from around the world feature on this compilation. The brainchild of New Zealander Richard "Breakfree" Anderson (whose band Stonefree provides one of many highlights here), Rock Patrol can in many ways be compared to the underground Metal Massacre tape - which back in the 1980s, featured a young and undiscovered Metallica. Rather than being a thrashy, show-us-your-chops compilation though, all the bands here are diverse in hardout rock n' roll, funkiness, and songwriting to be admired. Hailing from New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Holland and Hawaii, the featured bands have an obvious dedication to rock n roll in a mostly un-rock n roll nineties... guitars at the ready, and talent that deserves to be heard.

Rock Patrol works at a level where most people (mistakenly) don't bother. So if you feel like you're missing something in these depressing times, then Rock Patrol Mach 1 could be just what you need to hear.

For further information, contact breakfree@rocketmail.com or visit the Rock Patrol website at http://come.to/rock.patrol

TRACKLISTING:

1. Initiation - Stonefree/Luke/Kayla/AcidPornoMike

2. Bleed - The WILD

3. Kindred - Huckle

4. Give - My Facade

5. The Day - Fourth Member

6. Whore - Tone Deaf Teens

7. Who Made You God? - Pizza

8. Orwell Machine (Indendent Mix)- Mike Travis/David Holmes

9. She Knows - Strykes Twice

10. MTJ - The WILD

11. Fluid - Tone Deaf Teens

12. Searching - Lawn Dart Casualties

13. Darkness - Marc Cellucci

14. Door - Splice

15. Black Widow - Rainlord