Melee
PALANTINE
For the third year in a row, Tampa-based rock band Palantine — aka Vinnie Cosentino — has issued a fierce slab of dirty, fuzzed-out power-pop. Titled Melee, it's one of those discs that sound best at earsplitting decibel levels, especially when the sheets of distorted guitar come rushing through the speakers like Grand Canyon rapids. As on previous Palantine recordings, Cosentino cut Melee in the studio alone, performing vocal, guitar, bass and drum duties — before mixing and mastering the tracks himself. Bassist Brian David Johnson and drummer Jeff Fox join Cosentino on stage. Palantine CD Release Show, Sat. Oct. 18, New World Brewery, Ybor City. 3.5 stars
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2008.