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There is no band in NorCal I am more proud of than The Venting Machine, having watched them grow from their Breach days as a little-known four piece to one of the top draws in the region, be it in San Jose, Modesto, or Sacramento. Now they finally have an album that is worthy of their name and reputation (Diablo Demo was solid enough but not without its shortcomings.) A Death to Your Scene is nearly flawless, from the production to the musicianship, capturing their incredible live energy on disc with “Devil’s Mouthwash,” “Greed Empire,” and “The Beast Within.”

In addition to writing heavy, catchy songs, the secret to TVM’s success is the strong players. Drummer Joe Tobin once won a local “Fastest Feet” competition and creates a heavy backbone here, complemented by the tight bass lines of Chad Murphy. Vocalist Josh Hoover is a big man with an even bigger voice that commands your attention with every word. At the center of it all is insanely talented guitarist Jeremy Epp, long considered one of the top players in the scene, handling all the rhythm and lead work with ease. Ironically, this may well be the album that revives the scene – it really makes you want to get out and be a part of it. So what are you waiting for? Get Vented!

- Dave Pirtle