Orange 9mm

Driver Not Included was a bit of a coming out for hardcore outfit Orange 9mm, with its punishing rhythms and flashes of funk, metal, and overall aggression. There is much for listeners to get excited about while listening to vocalist Chaka Malik, guitarist Chris Traynor, drummer Matthew Cross, and bassist Davide Gentile churn out their own extremely tight brand of East Coast hardcore. "High Speed Changer" is a real standout with its considerable momentum and forceful choruses. Another highlight is the sprawling closer "Cutting and Draining," with its subtle nod to Quicksand during the staccato guitar stabs and bass/drum turnarounds. Malik struggles every now and then to find his intensity on tracks like "Thickest Glass," but generally the vocalist and every member of Orange 9mm are on pitch throughout Driver Not Included. A very strong effort, this 1995 Elektra release deserves its own place among the list of important '90s aggro/punk/hardcore releases. ~ Vincent Jeffries, Rovi