CLOCKWORK REVENGE

Make no mistake, this New Zealand group (recording in Australia) were clearly influenced by Genesis on their one and only album, CLOCKWORK REVENGE. In fact, with the raw twin-guitar attack, the electronic combo-organ and the stripped-down production, they almost sound like a garage-rock version of Genesis. The campy, crazed title-track-with lyrics about an army of wind-up dolls attacking an old lady-is practically Genesis meets Pavlov's Dog with roaring hard rock guitar and manic, tremulous vocals. The rest of the album isn't quite so out-of-control, but maintains an air of theatricality in the multiple voices (both guitarists sing) and some of the darker subject matter in the lyrics (particularly the harrowing, Mellotron-laced "Pictures In A Puddle").

Not enough originality to make this a must-own, but for fans of this type of music, this is one of the better items in this style.