The Process of Indoctrination (Independent)

The members of Gross Misconduct are veterans of two now-defunct Nanaimo-based skate/punk-metal bands, but they've moved far beyond aping Suicidal Tendencies. This is a proficient, technical, death-metal quartet whose Vancouver-based music has more in common with '80s Metallica, late-period Death, and contemporary underground acts like Nevermore and Martyr.

On The Process of Indoctrination, drummer John Kurucz physicalizes the rage of his anticonformist lyrics at around 200 beats per minute on riff-driven tracks like "The War Breeds On" and "The Humbler". The choice cut here is "Driven Fanatic", where a monstrously menacing introductory lick presages the dinosaur bludgeoning that comes midway through. David London's thick-throated vocals are satisfyingly intelligible, and, along with fellow axeman Jesse Brint, he delivers distorted volleys of rage and pinch harmonics. Next time out, an even fatter four-string sound from bassist-engineer Ryan Shepard would be appreciated. Otherwise, given a little refinement, Gross Misconduct could conceivably play junior-hockey arenas someday with its savagely complex sonic attack.