Downer

Next time you're listening to the radio, that might not be Maynard James Keenan you think you're hearing because a Diet Coke-version of Tool has arrived in the form of Orange County, Calif.-based outfit, Downer.\nDowner's debut album features a nontraditional blend of clear yet dark vocals layered on top of gut-wrenching riffs. Musically the album is lacking in melody, but vocalist John Scott makes up for this with his soaring vocal presence.\nConceived in the cutthroat Los Angeles metal scene in the mid-'90s, opening for bands such as The Offspring and Korn, Downer has finally risen from the shadows after some personal struggles and lineup changes to release its debut album. Scott does a decent Maynard impersonation, complete with references to God.\nThe band's name is reflected in the lyrics, but at first listen the album actually sounds upbeat thanks to the vocal presentation, hence sounding like a lighter version of Tool.\nGuitarist Aaron Silberman manages to match Scott's mood, resulting in a dramatically powerful combination such as in "Savior." At times Silberman plays as if he's in Third Eye Blind.\nYears of development in the L.A. scene have allowed Downer to hone its songwriting skills and develop into a cohesive unit. The band's dissonant and moody record could easily flourish but runs the risk of being lost in the shadow of Tool's highly anticipated release.\nThe band's cause is not helped by the fact that labelmate Fear Factory's Digimortal is being released on the same day, which will likely saturate the already competitive heavy music market. \nDowner supplies the avid Tool fan with a strong album to spin between releases and creates an ominous presence on its debut album.