These respected power-violence merchants from Los Angeles only took 11 years to release a full-length after a bunch of well-received splits, demos, and EPs. Some may think that that is a long time to wait, but after one listen to this new record, you will hear that the wait was well worth it, because ACxDC has delivered one blistering shot of invective, proving they are one of the better underground loud rock bands out there.

Instead of just relying on blind speed and brutality, which the album has plenty in spades, the songs have a great sense of dynamics, featuring many different styles of extreme music into short, sharp songs. You’ll hear traces of grind, hardcore, death metal, and sludge among their bursts of anger.

In addition, the band has kept their political edge intact, managing to tackle such subjects as religion, homophobia, and police brutality, among others in a fresh and interesting way. Sometimes they are dead serious; other times they let the sarcastic humor fly, but they always say what it is on their minds.

Also, the album benefits from a big metal production, which allows the shifts in dynamics to come through in greater clarity, and gives it an extra punch. It sounds huge and ready to destroy.

“Destroy Create” blasts and screams from the outset, adding some thick death metal guitars to the fray. “Paid In Full” starts off as a sludgy doom trawl, but then explodes into some violently fast hardcore punk. “Cheap Punks” goes death metal, changes gears to hardcore, and then ends as slowed, noisy rock. “Filicide” keeps it doom-y, heavy, and mid-paced, while “Give Up” builds up slowly over its first three minutes before going berserk and ending at the 3:36 mark.

ACxDC have realized their potential on this album. It burns with anger and creativity. This isn’t by-the-numbers power-violence; instead, this album shows a band at the height of their powers. Here’s hoping they don’t make us wait 11 years for another album.

(Melotov Records, 21720 Redwood Canyon Pl., Santa Clarita, CA 91390)