In the words of Neil Young: "Rock and roll can never die." Around the world there are communities growing and thriving and keeping rock and roll alive. One such community has risen up in Brooklyn around King Killer Studios, who are rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with. Generator Ohm is at the forefront of King Killer's roster, and with the release of Upon the Me Om I they are making their contribution to a musical tradition passed down since the 1950s.

The album starts strong kicking into "Lemming Shuffle" with upbeat bouncy bass lines and some snazzy hi-hat action laying the groundwork for very grunge-inspired vocals which rush forward up to the half timed bridge. The rest of Upon the Me Om I never quite matches the urgency and cohesion of the opening track, but this feels intentional following the ebb and flow of the album as a whole as the band push themselves in different directions. There is a lot of experimentation going on while still retaining the general framework of a rock band: from the pseudo hip hop break in "Smoke Eater" to the psychobilly feel of the bridge/solo of "Youth in Arms," from the brooding and spacey "Lynarco's Men" to the early '90s Chili Peppers vibe on "Marginal Hop."

There's a lot of good here, but it could benefit from being more concise. At close to 50 minutes, it is a tad too far out of my preferred sweet spot of a 30-minute record, especially since there are moments where certain parts feel like they drag on too long. That said, this is a very strong first release from a band that is just getting started. Keep an eye out for great things coming from them.