ZEN GUERILLA's 1999 scorcher originally released on Epitaph Europe, "Trance State..." is now back at the POP. ZG's first album on Sub Pop is loaded with concussive, thundering blues-rock, and ultra-distorted vocals that are filtered through a medium that is half megaphone, half electronic phase pedal. Many tracks kick to life with what sounds like a string of BLACK CAT firecrackers exploding. In fact, Trance can be understood as one large firecracker that explodes for 40-minutes, such is the record's intensity, power, and hypnotic drive. The band's guitar riffs feature the sonic signature of AC/DC, SOUNDGARDEN and MONSTER MAGNET, but the manner in which vocalist Marcus Durant's manical vocals body surf on the biggest LED ZEPPELIN riffs make the band sound fresh, hungry and urgent. "Preacher's Promise" has a call-and-shout gospel tinge, while "Peppermint" has a sped-up rockabilly tinge that recalls early REVEREND HORTON HEAT records. bits of Soul, sci-fi fantasies, gigantic riffs, time-delay vocals, looming harmonica wails, and tidal waves of rhythm all combine and make for one very, very loud and havoc-wrecking package. "Trance..." is a near-perfect blend of blues-rock and post-punk metal.