Despite not even having an album released, CA's Hotwire have already seen many ups and downs in their relatively young career. Originally having recorded material for this debut effort with various producers, including the likes of Dave Jerden (Jane's Addiction, Alice In Chains), Mudrock (Chimaira, Godsmack) and Malcolm Springer (Full Devil Jacket, Sinch); The band ultimately decided to scrap everything they had already committed to tape in favor of starting anew with Matt Hyde (Slayer, Hatebreed) at the helm.

Whether or not the singular production and focused recording process helped the band overcome the original problems they had faced is up to debate, but it has definitely given the final incarnation of this album a much more consistent sound. At their heart Hotwire feel like a leadfooted rock band that excel at being abrasive and edgy, without falling completely victim to commercialized hooks. They achieve this volatile mixture by starting out with hard-driving songs that borrow heavily from modern metal and then implement a touch of hardcore and punk prowess, vaguely bringing to mind Refused without the astounding innovation. Rounding out this jagged approach with melody that can veer off into the direction of an organic sounding Taproot just as quickly as it can head into atmospheric post-rock, the band seem to have a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde conflict going on that maps out the bulk of this record.

Starting off modestly enough "The Routine" unleashes your standard fare energetic post-hardcore aural artillery that could easily sit alongside the likes of current MTV darlings like Finch and The Used. But after a few tracks it slowly begins to taper off into far more melodic and experimental turf that may just leave a few listeners in the dark. In their favor, Hotwire's material does not delve into the sappy teen friendly pop used by the above mentioned bands and instead feels far more aggressive and authentic. Yet it also feels barren and lacks the flourishes and creativity necessary to truly reel the listener in. There's no question that Hotwire are talented musicians and have some solid ideas, but upon repeated listens "The Routine" begins to feel like exactly what it's namesake suggests. Sure they give it their all, but in the end that's still not enough to make this album really stand out from the pack, even if they are the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing.