Gift, the full-length debut offering from metallic Michigan four-piece Taproot, is an acerbic and uncompromising tour de force that never once allows directionless bombast to triumph over stylistic artistry. That said, Taproot are certainly no slouches when it comes to tumultuous bludgeoning. The band's muscular cohesion of mighty Smashing Pumpkins wall-of-guitar soundscapes, disconcerting staccato rhythms and vocalist Stephen Richards' schizophrenic vocal assaults are accentuated beyond sanity by Ulrich (Pantera, Static-X) Wild's trademark production chops and the end result is nothing short of devastating. Eastern tinges haunt the nagging choruses of "Again & Again", "Now" showcases the band's characteristic utilisation of seductive light-and-shade dynamism and inherent harmonic sensibilities, while climactic closer "Impact" viciously rends flesh with the merciless severity of its scorching delivery. Presuming that Taproot can avoid the all-encompassing undertow of the rap-rock Titanic that's currently dominating the American metal mainstream, then their imminent ascendancy to star status seems irresistibly assured. --Ian Fortnam