Metal Underground.com

Blending a melodic metal sound with industrial bells and whistles, Ribozyme's "Presenting the Problem" is an album most listeners will have no problem listening to. It offers a varied soundscape that brings to mind acts ranging from the likes of the Foo Fighters and Alice In Chains on the rock side to the almost dance-floor-friendly Nine Inch Nails and Filter — often within the same song.

Take, for example, the way the title track evenly splits the difference between a punk-rock bop and almost a disco feeling in parts. You could nearly see models walking the catwalk to "Over The Galvanized" with its driving drumbeat and simple, but effective guitar and bass lines.

The band takes the right approach in terms of easing the listener in. "Presenting The Problem" and "Lending A Fever" are much more straight-ahead rockers than the third track, "Leverage," with its screechy electronica and severely distorted vocals.

By the time you hit "Caskets," the band is much freer in terms of creating unique soundscapes, laced with more electronics. Fans of Rob Zombie's "Hellbilly Deluxe" will enjoy the hip-sway of "Rewatched," while "The Bricks Went Flying" blends Alice In Chains drone with a beautiful piano and synth coda.

Singer-guitarist Kjartan Ericsson's vocals (and for that matter, the backing vocals by bassist Bard Boge) seldom fall short of excellent. Drummer Cato Olaisen also puts in an excellent performance, lending a much more organic feel to even the most heavily programmed tracks on the album.

Though there aren't any truly bad tracks on the album, it must be said that the overly similar "Downside Advantage" and "Paid In Graves" add a bit of bloat. There are also a couple moments like the end of "Caskets," in which the electronics feel a bit forced.

All in all, though, Ribozyme has the answer of how to blend styles well on "Presenting the Problem."