This 'noise' lacks personal punch

"You warned me that I wasn't ready for this," growls Shaun Lopez on the opening line to his band's debut single, "Bonethrower." When the debut is produced by nu-metal kingpin Fred Durst and mixed by rock veteran Andy Wallace, expectations for the release should be high.\nAfter ex-Far guitarist Lopez declined Durst's offer to join Limp Bizkit, he pursued writing for his new band, The Revolution Smile. The sound is similar to Durst's other flagship group, Puddle of Mudd, except that instead of channeling Kurt Cobain, Lopez leans more toward the sound of Foo Fighter Dave Grohl.\nThe result from the Sacramento, Calif., quartet is the churning, chunky bass and guitar layers and customary growls that are found in almost all radio-friendly alt-metal, the closest approximation of The Revolution Smile's sound. \nLopez's vocal styling gradually begins to ape Filter's front man Richard Patrick, and even on occasion Lit's Jeremy Popoff or the Deftones' Chino Moreno. Unfortunately, the lyrics also lack a personal punch despite being limited to first-person references.\nThe album is an acceptable starting point for Lopez and company, who seem to show the necessary pedigree to eventually become hit makers. Puddle of Mudd fans will enjoy, but for all others, the album cannot make much of a lasting impact.