Powerman 5000 is returning with their first album since 2003's Transform, and it continues the straight up rock sound they started with that album. They may not be the most prolific of bands, but they can always be counted on to put out a solid album. They mix a party-rock sound with some darker lyrical content to create an identifiable sound.

They have had an interesting career. Over the course of their four major releases, including Destroy What You Enjoy, they have had three distinctly different sounds while never losing their identity as a single band, guided all the while by lead singer Spider. Their major label debut was Mega! Kung Fu Radio which was released in 1997 and was entrenched in the nu-metal sound of the time. It was a good disk, though hardly groundbreaking.

They followed with their break through 1999 release, Tonight the Stars Revolt. The album eschewed the nu-metal stylings in favor of an electro-rock sound. It has been their biggest album to date. Jump ahead two years to 2001, they were within a week of releasing Anyone for Doomsday? when Spider decided he didn't want it to be released. Retailers had already started promoting it, but Spider deemed it sounded too much like their prior release and wanted to go in a different direction. That was shelved, although I believe copies can be found in the secondary market.

Two years later Powerman 5000 returned with Transform, a straight rock album which is a very good listen. That brings us to the present, the eve of the release of Destroy What You Enjoy.

On a bit of a side note, the time between Transform and Destroy haven't been completely devoid of new PM5K music. The Fall of 2004 saw the release of The Good , the Bad and the Ugly Vol. 1. This is a very good release compiling many of their pre-Mega! days, displaying a jazzier, funkier sound I wish they would revisit someday.

Destroy What You Enjoy picks up right where Transform left off. It marks the first time they have had consecutive releases with the same style. I'm not sure if that is any real comment on the band or not, but perhaps they found their niche. I did get to hear a few of these new tracks live a few months back when their tour made a stop in my town. I remember "Destroy What You Enjoy," "Heroes and Villains," and "Now That's Rock 'N Roll" being played, and sounding pretty good.