One Day as a Lion

After years of audience anticipation for what he would come up with after Rage Against the Machine, vocalist Zack de la Rocha opts for quality over quantity on this five-song EP. That’s wise, because de la Rocha and his drummer band mate Jon Theodore already begin to repeat themselves on these tracks. It’s a minor bump, though, in an otherwise invigorating listening experience. Falling close to Rage territory, de la Rocha himself provides the squeals and riffs on keyboards that pump through a dense mix courtesy of Beastie Boys collaborator Mario Caldato. And though he sticks to familiar ground, de la Rocha pulls a long-hidden ace when he actually starts to sing.