Lamb Quartet, an odd name for an extremely odd band. "Cockfight", their latest outing finds this U.K. based group stumbling upon a perfect DNA splicing of acts like Nuclear Rabbit, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Incubus, to create an altogether unexpected musical monstrosity. Spastic yet ferociously powerful, the music on hand here is rife with a continual underlying aggression that comes sprinkled with just enough whimsy and chameleon-like musical ability to become perhaps the perfect soundtrack to Godzilla rampaging through a Smurf village.

From jazzy grooves to ska and funk, the band are definitely open to breaking down musical boundaries and seem to have no problem in doing so at the drop of a hat. In essence, this isn't really new ground however as bands like Dog Fashion Disco, Tub Ring and of course the ever influential Mr. Bungle have done stellar work in this arena already. Instead what really sets these boys apart is the way they incorporate modern screamo/metal styled aggression, which is alarmingly skin searing in intensity, into their quirky craft. It's implementation ultimately contrasts so vividly with their more eclectic moments that its hard not to be taken completely off guard when first hearing it. Undeniably it is this constant parallel that really keeps the tracks on hand here interesting and will no doubt appeal to those not fond of the circus music approach often taken by their peers.

Heavy, yet colorfully animated, Lamb Quartet are a hallucinogenic breath of fresh air and are sure to leave many a listener in a state of blissful confusion. Talented musicianship with determined momentum is what is in store here and with accomplished melodies routinely colliding with unhinged aural violence, it seems that this quartet have really struck a nerve with their demented audio experiments. True the offering is too short and yes it could use a few tune-up's here and there, but ultimately any extra polish would kill the magic that they have managed to conjure up. Indeed the U.K. must have some serious mental issues with their livestock, first mad cow and now utterly deranged sheep.