(hed) Planet Earth Album: “Hed P.E.”

This disc f'in rocks my world. Thanks to the Strangeland soundtrack, I felt the desire to check these guys out further... and I was not disappointed! (hed)pe brings forth the inevitable Limp Bizkit comparisons, and LB fares _Badly_ in this light. With good solid rapping, great lyrics and some booty-bouncing, hip-hop/metal riffing, (hed)pe emerge as the better band in terms of musical talent and lyric writing.

The album rocks from beginning to end. "POS" and "Ground" lead smoothly into "Serpent Boy", which is explosive and features some awesome transitions from hyper-rapped verses to mega-rock-riff choruses. "Tired of Sleep" features a more laid back groove laid down over eerily haunting high pitched guitar licks.

Other excellent tracks are "Schpamb", "Ken 2012", "33" and "Hill". "IFO" has fast become one of my favorite, featuring some of the most awesome lyrics I have ever heard. It sounds like the X-Files episode written by the staff of High Times!

All in all, this band can hold it's own against any of the new metal bands out there, Rage Against the Machine included. Rage owns, but so does (hed)pe. I think the future for these guys is blindingly bright, and I would highly recommend this record to people out there with open minds who don't blindly cling to allegiance with one band.

This Cd is off the hook. Darky is one of the best songs ever written. When they drop the new bomb in 2000, pick it up.

When I think of rapcore the band that first comes to mind is (hed)pe, rather than say like Limp Bizkit. I've had this cd for nearly three years and it still never fails to amaze me. Featuring dark and angry music dominated by freaky guitar work, laid-back grooves and incredible scratching, this cd is a maelstrom of sounds. The vocals are presented in a hip-hop style accompanied by explosions of aggression. This band reminds me of Incubus for their talented musicianship and eclectic music, and Korn for their anger and aggressiveness. The only problem with the cd is that the song structures need to be a bit tighter and the drums and bass are kind of weak. Otherwise a great cd showcasing a band with unlimited potential who will blossom into something truly special. Fave tracks include "Serpent Boy", "P.O.S.", "Darky", "Circus", "Ken 2012", and "IFO". Other great rapcore bands to check out: Frontside, E-Town Concrete, Spine, Clown, Nonpoint, 51b Bag, and Engine No. 9. Also check out (hed)pe's upcoming new release.

This cd can't be described in words. (hed) PE deserves crazy props for this album. God, every song on it is good. Unfortunately I know these guys are gonna be big someday like Limp Bizkit, but oh well, enjoy it while it lasts. A 5 star effot from a 5 star band. Also check out Limp Bizkit's first cd, Snot, and Amen.

When (hed) released their debut LP it was right at the height of the "Nu-Metal" craze, largely propagated by Korn, but it still stands out head and shoulders above what is mostly music made by angry, self-absorbed wannabes. I guess the closest group to them are early-era Incubus, although (hed) are probably a little more aggressive. Despite the band knowing exactly how to land a heavy groove, the thing that really sets them apart is the astonishing charisma and vocal talent of their dynamic lead singer, Jahred; a truly versatile frontman mixing up speedy raps, guttural growling, and melodic singing. All the tunes have that distinctive (hed) sound (Korn-esque chord voicings, clean-ish detuned riffs) which remains across all their albums and is testament to their craft. Stand out songs include `P.O.S.', `Serpent Boy', `Darky', and `IFO'. If there's a problem with the album it's that some songs drag and occasionally sound a bit `cut & paste'. But it has a pretty good raw sound and sometimes that unfocused air lends itself for the better; you get the impression these are young boisterous chaps and must be a hoot to watch live! (Which they are.) In summary, a really tight-knit unit offering something unique, energetic and attitude-soaked. Recommended!