Flyleaf

A buzz began to circulate over Belton, Texas, quartet Flyleaf when the band's debut EP first made the rounds. Fronted by singer Lacey Mosley, the band generates an enormous sound that draws on elements of nu-metal, screamo, and alternative rock, with Mosley's sometimes ferocious/sometimes sweet vocals lending the group a distinctive edge. Expectation ran high for the band's first long-player, but, luckily, Flyleaf's self-titled debut full-length doesn't disappoint. Leading off with the album's first single, "I'm So Sick," the album states its business and continues from there. There are hooks and melodic elements woven skillfully into the thrash, ensuring that Flyleaf's songs won't fade away as easily as many by their alt-metal contemporaries. But don't let Mosley's sometimes charming voice lull you: she can scream like a banshee, and the band hits with as much muscle as anyone on the scene. Fans of the genre are encouraged to check this out.