Evolotto

The members of Toledo, OH's Evolotto have described their sound as "seething, smoldering audio wreckage." To be sure, the alternative metal threesome is forceful, aggressive, hard-driving, and intense; no one will mistake Evolotto's music for adult contemporary, soft rock, easy listening, or new age. But at the same time, Evolotto has a strong sense of melody; the trio loves to fluctuate between high-speed exhilaration and dark, moody melodies that are played at slower tempos. Evolotto brings a variety of influences to its work -- influences ranging from Voivod, Helmet, and Motörhead to Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. Thrash and speed metal are an influence; so are punk, grunge, and industrial. Evolotto was formed in Toledo in 1994, when lead singer/bassist Schmid joined forces with two friends he had known since high school: guitarist Chris Sobb and drummer Ben Bomlitz. The name Evolotto was inspired by Evil Otto, a character in the '80s video game Berserk. Shortly after Evolotto's formation, the Midwesterners recorded a demo titled Candied Peas -- and they had been together four years when they finally landed a record deal. In 1998, Evolotto signed with Sin Klub Entertainment, a small, independent, very metal-friendly label based in Toledo (which was certainly convenient for the band). Sin Klub released 1776, Evolotto's first official album, in 1998 -- and in 2002, they recorded their second album, Sixers, for Sin Klub. Sixers' front and back covers turned some heads in alternative metal circles; Evolotto hired model/actress Michonne Bourriague (who is perhaps best known for her role in 1999's Star Wars: The Phantom Menace) to pose in ultra-sexy attire and depicted her as a Satanist who had devil-like horns coming out of her forehead. But the album's dark-humored...