Caught 'Em in Autumn

Lions

In the world of local fourpiece Lions, it's all about the rawk & roll. And maybe the 'stache. From the classic riffs of 2006 smokin' debut Volume One to the furious stoner jams and double-stacked amps of this year's heavier sophomore blast, No Generation, Lions leap from sludge to metal to Texas boogie in the time it takes to stomp the Big Muff and turn up the volume. Frontman Matt Drenik's no newbie to the Austin scene; along with drummer Jake Perlman, he worked up the Good Looks until eruption, but mixing with bassist Trevor Sutcliffe and guitarist Austin Kalman two years ago was like dropping whiskey and cream into a foaming Guinness. No Generation was saved from a major label nightmare at the last minute, but with "Metal Heavy Lady" rubbing elbows with Kiss, Alice Cooper, and Heart on the new Guitar Hero III, who needs a stinking label? – Darcie Stevens