This is a good

This is a good, solid disc who's standout feature is their Queensryche-clone sound. Now usually Queensryche clones are just plain ripoffs but for some reason the band, Lethal, managed to take this and create something a little different, for this one disc, for in their next release they would take their music into a more 'mature' direction if you wish to call it that, with a mixture between Pink Floyd and alternative music. However, for this one cd, "Programmed", they were able to shine. Contributing heavy to this clone sound, is vocalist Tom Mallicoat. Now this guy is equipped with a set of pipes that blast out a mixture between Geoff Tate and Crimson Glory ex-legendary vocalist, Midnight, with Mallicoat's vocals leaning more towards Tate than the former CG singer. His rich, gorgeously soaring voice would have tackled a ballad absolutely perfectly, and he shows his softer emotional side for moments on a few of these hard edged tracks, but not often enough for my tastes. My dream is to hear him sing a ballad, but on this disc, that dream isn't realized. However, his voice is powerful, and brilliant, but he stays in basically the same range throughout, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but I think he's capable of alot more. The guitar work is appropriately Queensryche-like, with a dual attack from Eric Cook and Dell Hull. The majority of the music was written by Mallicoat and the two Cooks, one on bass and the Cook guitarist. One unusual thing about "Programmed" is the fact its a 'concept' album of sorts, in the sense that all the songs are dealing with an alien invasion and the tortured mind of a creature- maybe human, maybe alien that is being programmed for a twisted purpose, hence the name of the disc. This is just my take on it, and it could very well be totally offbase. This has been done before and since of course, but its quite delightful wrapped up in this 'Ryche like fashion, and when I compare the band to Queensryche, I don't mean their latest more 'modern' rock sound, but their old brutally progressive releases like "Rage for Order" and the fantastic "The Warning".

My favorite tune off this album is the killer "Obscure the Sky" with its strong bass, pounding rhythm and searing guitarwork. It starts off however, with ominously lapping acoustic guitar and then a few halting drum pounds, before it cranks up to full force. Mallicoat gives it his all, in a moving performance that stretches his range, hitting those high notes, but not screaming straight through it as he has a tendancy to do on some of the other tracks. The only break in the song is during the ripping guitar solo which is very cleanly performed. Its follow up track, "Immune" is also a killer, and written entirely by Mallicoat. It starts out hauntingly, with gentle lapping acoustic, and those rich beautiful vocals that gives a glimpse of how he would sound singing a beautiful ballad, but it doesn't last long, before galloping rhythm guitar work breaks it out of the mood, and into a real go-getter of a metal tune. The chorus in this one is heart-stopping, with some half-screaming vocals. The song ends as it begins... and into the acoustic dominating "Pray For Me", with more doses of gorgeous vocals, although the acoustic guitar is a bit clangy at times, its more carried on the vocal prowess of the lead singer, and serves as a ballad-type song, just not exactly what I had in mind as one. "Plan of Peace" has a slightly more plodding overall sound than some of the others and is filled to the brim with crushing bass. Mallicoat manages to hold a note that has to be heard to be believed. "Another Day" is straight from the book of the dark moody tracks on Queensryche's "The Warning". The song seems to be a cry to God to help him through just another day, with a journey into the trip of a desperate, tortured and delusional mind. Sharp and pristine, the guitar solo rings out with a brittle tone. "Another Day" bounces between the moody sections, and dramatic heavier passages. "Killing Machine" is a driving song that is held together with heavy bass and very progressive sounding, frantic drumwork. This song also has an addictive chorus going for it. The rest of the songs on the disc are heavy pounding songs in that QR sound, but they have a tendancy to flow together at times with their heavy drumwork with lots of screaming vocals laid on top of it.