Various - Kerrang New Breed

Two CDs full of the latest, coolest, cutting edge of indie, hard rock and metal hybrids sounds like just the thing all the cool kids need to make sure they're name dropping the right bands at art school. Which is about all it's good for really, for while there's a smattering of highlights and solid songs throughout, apart from a couple of absolute shockers, it would be amazing if more than two of these bands made it any further than a medium sized venue. Inoffensive background music that is neither overly challenging nor adventurous, it's all from a middle ground crowded with similar bands looking to make it big. This compilation proves that the hype machine is running out of steam and that bands really do need more than cool song titles, expensive haircuts and undernourished bodies if they want to make it big. Well let's hope so anyway, but looking at what's popular at the moment, I might be wrong. [Xavier Toby]