San Diego based bad-ass band Ghoulspoon just tears it up on this six track self-produced CD Fever. These sounds are so phat and groovy, they will rock you to the core. This is yet another band to enter into the already charted territory of rap/rock hybrid, but Ghoulspoon gives you just a bit more thrown in at no extra cost. The elements and influences this band is pulling from are very diverse. Although they don't stand alone in this genre, they have managed to reconstruct the sound, and they own it!

One of the best things about this band is they don't spare the bass lines and drums. That bass is right up front and in your face from the first cut on this CD. The title track opens with an itchy guitar riff that almost mimics the scratching sound by the DJ, then leads into that hard-edged bass, artfully played by Richard "Rice" Enright Jr. When Zach lays on his vocals in a sped up hyper-delivery you start to feel the intense Ghoulspoon vibe, only you don't know the half of it. This band can take you on a trip in a few different directions and drop you off still feeling lost. So, don't try and categorize them just recognize that sometimes you gotta go with the flow, a journey into the world of Ghoulspoon is well worth it.

They will mix it up for ya as they prove in the tune "Crowd of a Thousand," where you get a much heavier feel than in the tracks before, a straightforward hard rock vibe. The drums carry the power and weight here. The vocals on this CD are as varied as the songs and go from a melodic croon, to a scream, to rapid-fire rap style. A good example of that is the song "Defense Wounds," where the vocals switch up from super smooth to ballistic and punchy raps in the chorus. Zach raps in time with the drums, and it is awesome.

The ability of this band to bring out the bass lines instead of burying them behind the guitar is what keeps you wanting to hear more; it just makes the sound fatter and more dynamic. When the guitars get going they will hold you eraptured. The lead guitarist plays riffs and solos that are reminiscent of rock Gods of old. Which he ably proves in solos in both "Fever," and "Suspension." Drummer Jason Vick shows off his flexibility in "Transcend" playing a beat that is nearly techno at points, but this track is where the drums and bass hold back, this song is more about the guitar. "Transcend" has atmosphere of an Island rhythm in melody. This one will have you beached lighting a fatty and believing all is "irie." Ghoulspoon tossed in a cover tune for good measure, pulling off a faithful rendition of the Car's "You're All I've Got Tonight."

My only real misgiving about the band is that at times they can sound like another So. California rap-rock band Zebrahead. That's really not a bad thing, entirely. Only the first track suffers from that comparison. Ghoulspoon's Fever is well worth a visit to a local club to see them and get your copy. If you are at all intrigued by what you've read here, check them out, they are amazing live!