Not to sound cheesy or stereotypically gay or anything, but Cezch band Thema Eleven's Choose Your Beast is simply dazzling. Innately creative hardcore without falling prey to the overpolished "nu-metal" sound, Thema Eleven have achieved something truly enjoyable on this six song EP, co-released by Russian labels Proxima and Old Skool Kids.

This is hardcore for hardcore kids; the Limp Bizkit crowd will likely want to give this a miss. Genuine outrage at the results of more than a decade of post Cold War, multi-national capitalism raping the streets of Prague are evident throughout the jaded and fearfully self-reflective lyrics, and the sense of disillusionment encapsulated in the guitar work create a remarkable sense of detachment, abandon, and fear for what we, as a race, have become, and where the Czechs, as a people, are headed (though it is important to note that this is not a clarion call, but rather a personal perspective on what the callousness of multi-class social structures create).

Lyrically and musically this brings to mind truly epic, great bands like Struggle, pre-Souls at Zero Neurosis, Shotmaker, and Born Against. Yes, it is that kind of record, and it will appeal to fans of those bands with little room for doubt. This is an inspiring record which manages to surpass its derivations with heartfelt creativity and pathos.

Also, Choose Your Beast features the greatest collection of spoken word samples I've heard on a record since Swans' Soundtracks for the Blind.

-Dave Mandell