A local bias? Let me reassure you, when I review a Leuven band and start dropping Kyuss, Deftones, and Black Sabbath as references, I'm not playing favorites, just calling it like I hear it. 'Let the Muse Respond' starts with a lovingly Earth-y Sabbath riff that explodes into a Deftones-like freakfest and then settles into a Kyuss-like desert-drone. Tasty! "Stone Roses, Dead Gardens" is an even better mix of those ominous influences.

'From What Rivers Have to Offer' demonstrates a charming resolution to be it's own thing. From the packaging (wooden case, looks like a cigar box, cool!) to the fantastic diversity of the tunes, the world has never seen a hardcore release quite like this one: Not the best, just really unique. "Pull Out of this Story" sounds like it could be a Dischord track, tucked snuggly between Fugazi, Lungfish and Wilderness (who are not a Dischord band, but sound like one). On "How Can I Be You", the guitars and the vocals get decidedly more crunchy. And on "Favours and Favourites" PN headbutt their way into superior, tortured Nu (wave) Metal. Shit, my neck hurts! The album's biggest surprise is the title track with its somber, simple piano line and female vocals. Nice song that improbably sets itself up as this complex album's centerpiece.

For 10+ years, PN have slowly built a compelling resume of superior hardcore: proof positive that to find treasures, sometimes you don't have to go any further than your own backyard.