New Artist: Beast

French-Canadian electro-rock duo Beast have recently released their self-titled debut album in stores, though it's been available digitally for some time now. With Betty Bonifassi on vocals and multi-instrumentalist Jean-Phi Goncalves handling just about everything else, the band create an aggressive and unique combination of electronica, rock, and R&B that incorporates a variety of fascinating musical elements in a sound the band refer to as 'trip-rock." Their new record is an excellent showcase of the duo's talent, an expansive collection of 12 tracks that establish the band as one of Canada's most exciting recent exports.

The album's first single, "Mr. Hurricane," gives you a good idea of what you'll be getting yourself into with Beast. It's an in-your-face, bass and guitar attack with pounding drums and a gospel-esque choir behind Bonifassi's spitfire vocals. The band's sound works best when they let loose and keep things upbeat, as on the trance-like groove of "Finger Prints," the rap-rock attitude found in "Microcyte," and the frenetic, blues stomp of "Satan." The duo push hard to make their debut a memorable one, and they succeed more often than not. This is a band that should make an impact well beyond their hometown of Montreal.

Check out Beast on MySpace