After months of painstaking research and experimental design, we can now definitively and without hesitation state: It is impossible to hate a hardcore band called 'Homer'. Just that image of Homer Simpson with a rasta-cap on trying to mosh makes you melt for this band.

The fact that singer Johan hails from Leuven and is just about the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet only makes the tight riffs and stop-everything breaks more appealing. When he screams, grunts or otherwise remains in hardcore territory, Johan is absolutely imposing: Chino Moreno ('Deftones') or Mike Patton('Faith No More') imposing....met andere woorden, pretty goddamn imposing! "Here's the Action", "You'll Do It Right I Guess" and "Tear It Down" are probably the best overall performances (although my faves shift regularly, a great (devil-horned) sign).

However, the same vocals are also sometimes problematic. When Johan tries to sing it straight, with an admittedly fantastically talented voice, it somehow seems misplaced in the otherwise crunchy proceedings. Take 'Long Gone Dreams', a bold statement that seems poised for world conquest: A no-mercy, melodic riff-o))))rama with appropriately menacing vox. Goe bezig, it would seem and then somehow the vocals evolve into what sounds like a duet with Jasper Steverlinck. DOH!!!

But that's my problem and I'll just have to deal with it: For the rest, Homer rock, with a capital 'R'.