Retro. I hate that word. It makes me think of silly big sunglasses, ridiculous t.v. shows, b-films and led zeppelin rip-offs. It's the term that is supposed to mean "like the old days" but is rapidly becoming a replacing term for "2005". Yuck. Especially when you consider that 99,999% of the bands that claim that sort of fame have a band that begins with "THE".

But out of the blue, in drops an EP entitled "Profiled" by a Los Angeles bases group called 286. And this 75% American and 25% Argentine band might bring Rock 'n' Roll in the best tradition, with punk side orders that sound like it comes right out of the same era as the high-rolling days of the aussie hardrockers, or maybe even the Stones or Stooges and MC5.. It might sound like that.. but here's news for you: THIS IS NOT RETRO!

No! It sounds too much like the earlie days of hardrock, it actually gets very close to the real thing. With a very fine extra new kick up to date kick in the butt, even though it is hard to put your finger on where this comes from. Feel good rock 'n' roll with a testosterone driven sound, good chorus lines and cool-as-fuck harmonies, who doesn't like that sortta stuff?
Above that every single track is topped off with a brilliant crystal clear (0% pro-tooled) recording sound. This shit is a+!

This is the refreshing impulse that my cd player needed! This five-song debut EP, contains some heavy heavy rambling rock 'n' roll that sets the right mood for an evening of beer drinking, it's that new record you hadn't heard before that makes you tap your hands on the bar with a coaster. It's that stuff you hear the cd-store owner play and buy straight away. It's an EP that would have made John Peel happy. And even better: it's the kind of recording that makes you really want to see these guys perform live!

European promotors and bookers wake up! Here's that band you want to get to the European mainland, before their debut album is released. 286 are hot, they're promising and they are so un-trendy that it makes them a trend before they even gotten on stage.

Check this one out (European readers visit the website, I do not believe this EP is sold in Europe), and be the envy of all the girls in two years when you can say you own their first EP, way before their breakthrough!

(Wow, I am amazed I got through this review without mentioning "Straight in your face rock 'n' roll" or "raw and edgy material"!)

Track list:
1. Profiled
2. 68'
3. Broken Peace
4. Dark Carnival
5. Record Store Prophets

Band line-up:
Adam Joad - vocals
Nikee Verry - bass & vocals
Pete Pace - drums
Martin Verry