Trapped Again is a tight collection of eight songs showcasing Mental Hygiene’s strengths: catchy lyrics, infectious melodies and punchy guitar riffs. The opening track, “Strangers,” sets the tone for what promises to be a rockin’ good time. The track brings an edginess to the record, with lyrics like: “You pretend you’re a stranger/To the lust we feel/You wanna let it be/C’mon and leave with me.”

Hard rock is usually not my thing. But I found my head bobbing to several of the tracks, especially “Predator.” Guitarist Elisabeth Kierkegaarde finally gave me what I want in a good hard rock song: a great solo that compelled me to pull out my trusty air guitar and jam along.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Trapped Again is the trio of songs sandwiched in the middle of this hard rock record. “Running Blind,” “Cold As Stone” and “Green Eyes” made me love this album. The songs are a departure from the general sound of the album, but to me it feels like a moment of clarity. These tracks showcase Mental Hygiene’s talents perfectly, with lovely harmonies and thoughtful lyrics.

If you want to experience the perfect mixture of Mental Hygiene’s sounds, listen to “Cold As Stone.” It’s truly the apex of the record, where the elements mesh effortlessly to perfection.

Trapped Again is a fitting name for this album. Mental Hygiene seems, on the surface, to be a straightforward trio of rocker chicks, full of attitude and general badass-ness. Once you get past the in-your-face, no-apologies attitude, trapped inside lies a level of talent that, if mixed correctly, can explode into awesomeness. Keep an eye/ear out here for video of Mental Hygiene’s next show.

**** and *****

Don’t miss:

Kristin Porter’s incredible voice: Whether sultry or abrasive, she nails it every time.

Former Everclear bassist Sammy Hudson finally being put to good use. He does a great job.

Skip:

“Trapped Again.” The title track is somewhat repetitive and doesn’t live up to its status as the namesake of the album.

Song most likely to go into Liz’s top playlist rotation: “Running Blind.” The harmonies in the chorus nearly brought me to tears!

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