Lost at Sea

The early 21st century has seen a multitude of bands that temper elements of extreme metal (growled vocals, Godzilla-esque riffing) with bits that make crossover success a real possibility (sweetly sung choruses). You can add the Los Angeles outfit, 2cents, to the ever-growing list, especially with their 2006 debut for Eastwest, Lost at Sea. Overseen by one of rock's most respected/renowned producers, Matt Hyde (who has worked with everyone from Porno for Pyros to Slayer), Lost at Sea offers a faithful snapshot of what radio-ready metal circa 2006 sounds like. Songs like "Victims of Pop Culture" and especially the melodic "Symptoms for Side Effects" would sound simply exquisite blasting out of your nearest Hot Topic store, while the group also offers a now-mandatory tribute to late Pantera/Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrell, "A Song for Darrell Abbott" (which -- surprise, surprise -- begins quietly, before exploding in rage).