X-Patriot has some of what made American Folk Horror such a good album. It's heavy as always and there is a southern-fried quality to the whole package. Some subtle, nimble- fingered prog-punk melodies make their mark here, with rhythms improved to the point of sounding effortless. The singing is now bold, bare-naked and better-than-ever. In fact, this album is so consistently inventive, interesting and rockin' that I wouldn't hesitate to lump them in with long-lost luminaries like the Minutemen or Big Black.

After repeated listens, I can't tell if they have redesigned their attack and refined their sound into a more groove-oriented beast or if it's exactly the same as American Folk Horror. Either way, this trio deliver the unmistakable Fed X double guitar attack and serve up the fat chunky riffs that you can really sink your tooth into.

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