Early Man

If you've ever sewn a Venom patch onto a sleeveless jean jacket, you must see Early Man. This New York duo mines metal's Paleolithic era--the early '80s--for chugging, head-bobbing riffs, Ozzy-style vocals and some sweet vintage tees. The band's debut, Closing In, is all about feeling 25 feet tall and punching out innocent bystanders. The highlight here is "Like a Goddamn Rat," a disco-metal romper with a galloping, Iron Maiden bass line and lyrics that call out your mom. In concert, the two dudes make enough noise for four, bashing out ill-tempered rippers, and it all congeals into prime, fat-free metal that'll leave necks sprained from here to Hades.