Metal Underground.com

Normally, when a band decides to re-record old material with a new lineup, the results are somewhat less than spectacular. What a relief, then, that Mongrel's "The New Breed Of Old School" actually bucks that trend and improves on the originals. Fans of punk-tinged metal a la Motorhead are going to find plenty to love here.

The first thing people who've heard "Fear, Lies & Propaganda," the album this material was culled from are going to notice are the vocals — initially because, unlike the original, they're delivered by a female, and thereafter because Jessica Sierra just plain kicks ass. She can do the Wendy O. thing on the speedy Motorhead-ish "West Memphis Hell" and "I Refuse," but also adds a dose of feminine swagger and stronger melody to "Bound To Crash."

Sierra's not the only improvement. The rest of the band — particularly guitarist Adam Savage — seems more energized this go-round, with tracks like the hypocrisy-bashing "The World Loves A Tragedy" having quite a bit more heft as a result.

Also, the new versions just plain sound better, with a little more effort on the production side. Does that sand off some of the rough edges that made the original DIY-sounding version good? Yeah, but little touches like a tiny flub in the guitar part in "Bound To Crash" keep things from sounding too clean.

Superior to the original versions in nearly every way, the songs on Mongrel's "The New Breed Of Old School" are given a new life by the band's new lineup. You may have heard these songs before, but until you hear this EP, you've never heard them played to their full potential.