Divide By Zero - Timber

Divide By Zero
Timber
Waste of Time Records
Grade: A-

Roughly a year after releasing their debut EP Mirrors on Sinister Label in the summer of 2003, Chicago's Divide By Zero have punched out another EP specifically designed to create drool in the mouths of listeners before the fall release of their full-length on Jump Start Records. While Mirrors was a competent affair, this three-song EP is absolutely leaps and bounds beyond previous material. Divide By Zero focus their talents on earnest and honest sounds that punctuate both the varying placed vocals of T.J. Milici and the extended guitar work by both Milici and Tom Aaron. Bassist John Contreras and drummer Brian Lapinski help keep the time, with a thick bass sound peaking through once in awhile. Divide By Zero are like the second coming of Hot Water Music without paralleling their sound too much - lovely. The one sheet on this EP highlights the title track, which is good in its own right, but the second number "Anywhere But Here" absolutely blows it away. "Anywhere But Here" begins with a slow intro before Milici offers up his most sedate singing. As the song progresses, the vocals get gruffer where gang vocals come in and the song careens off into various segments. The EP closes on the relatively straightforward punk "Accusations" - a strong song in its own right, particularly with well-done breakdowns. This "teaser" has succeeded in raising our interest in the forthcoming full-length.