Into the Void- The three piece trio from Fairmont, WV, has managed to post four tracks on Myspace (www.myspace.com/intothevoidtheband), recorded at Beyond Sanity Productions. Three of the newly recorded tracks- "El Padre," "Enlightenment," and "Out of Your Element" capture the band's fast-moving power chord structure, characterized by 80's metal acts like Megadeth and Guns n' Roses, while also incorporating a more bluesy lead and caricatured, punk-oriented vocals. This fusion of influences is foreshadowed by politically inspired lyrics and a vintage rock sound- a sonic ambience probably derived from Peavey tube amps combined with Ibanez SD-9 distortion that was used during the recordings. This unique combination of sounds creates an atmosphere similar to older punk, without sacrificing the stronger elements of metal or the free-flowing warmth and familiarity of blues lead. This unique ambivalence certainly makes this band's site worth visiting (www.intothevoidtheband.com) for music downloads, and justifies the idea of going to a show to hear them live. Only two mild criticisms are worth mentioning: 1) The recordings themselves, which could probably stand to be re-mastered in a more elaborate studio- a problem that more than one local act could attest to; and 2) While "Feel Tomorrow Come" reveals the diversity of the band's musical capacity, the vocals could stand to be a bit milder. Both of these problems may be derived from microphone issues, and not nearly reason to discredit the idea of venturing to Morgantown for a good show. - Derek Wilkinson - [Myspace]