Traindodge

Post-hardcore can be split into two eras: pre-At the Drive-In and post-At the Drive-In. Oklahoma's Traindodge sticks out by sounding as if ATDI never existed. Forgoing the sexy, sassy acrobatics that have come to define the genre, the trio peddles a brand of cerebrally accelerated aggression that requires a bit more deciphering but is well worth the effort. Formed in 1996, Traindodge was initially beholden to Midwest forebears like Giants Chair and Shiner. But the outfit's third full-length, 2004's The Truth, was a double-disc opus that hijacked both No Knife and Pink Floyd, juxtaposing tense minimalism with sharp angles of detached, disjointed atmosphere. The group's new EP, Under Black Sails, is more accessible work that sinks pop hooks in a sea of piss and acid. Unlike the hordes of post-hardcore wannabes who think screams, noise and posing make the band, Traindodge synthesizes brainpower and horsepower into a contorted, rock-heavy wallop that'll leave you scratching your head as much as banging it.