Metal Underground.com

The thrashy, ska-infused skater-punk you'll hear on The Sheds' "Self/Doubt" isn't anything you haven't heard before — but it is catchy and well-performed. Other than a few heavy moments, though, it's hardly what you'd call metal, despite being released on the Mediaskare label.

Things get off to a speedy start with "Self Doubt," which blends hardcore shouting and an almost thrash metal intro before going into ska mode. The band deserves credit for starting out on the right foot, with this track featuring a surprising amount of musical variety while never completely abandoning the punk genre.

"Slash & Burn" is a little more conventional, but it takes until "Heart" until the band goes full-on ska-core, though Mark Blaker's lightspeed drumming keeps things a little more speedy than is the norm for the genre. "Counting Sheep" keeps the pedal to the metal, while "Namesake" has an appealing blend of speed and slog.

As noted above, there's not a lot of originality here, but you've got to credit both Blaker and guitarist Morgan Miller for their ability to switch speeds on a dime. Also, Mac Miller's lead vocal work is generally quite good.

Punk fans with a taste for ska will, without a doubt wholeheartedly embrace The Sheds' "Self/Doubt," despite the fact (or maybe because of it) that it sounds like every song you've ever heard during a skateboard film. But hey, it's catchy, and that counts for a lot.