Mike SOS in his innocent youth had little idea what he was to become in life. The passion that ran through him, as it does most young men on the threshold of enlightenment, at the time was seeking a purpose. It would seek a function unique and essential that it could use as the pivotal cornerstone of all decisions. Stumbling through youth as most of us do, Mike decided it was time to try music and started to play guitar. The earth gave a subtle quake that only a consciousness as old as the stones about him could feel as Mike strummed his first notes. A sigh ran through our beloved consciousness as it rumbled "NOW" and infused itself into our friend Mike's soul. That day, Mike SOS was reborn. Infused with the rock and metal ore that ran through the very ground he tread, Mike understood his purpose and felt a drive that only millennia of patient waiting could provide. As the ambassador of rock and metal and also the land surrounding him, Mike had set out to make the short time given to him not a pebble in a pond, but a meteor into the ocean.

“A Guide To Better Living’ is the latest installment from the Queens, NY rockers SOS. The album consists of 17-tracks that take you on a musical journey with a band whose career has spanned for over a decade. Without further ado, strap on your headphones and a helmet and let’s get right into it.

The album showcases the bands talent and ability to play a large variety of genres. From the depths of Hardcore, Metal and Hard Rock, to the speed, energy and precision of Rock and Punk, SOS has and plays it all. The album kicks it off with a solid track, ‘Bumblefuck’. This song has good energy and sets the tone for the rest of the album. This is followed by two equally as powerful tracks; ‘Star Killers’ and ‘Everything Must Go’. ‘Star Killers’ has a punk/rock’n’roll feel to it. ‘Everything Must Go’ is pure hard rock, with a chorus that keeps me singing along. ‘Hopeless’ is a pure punk song packed full of energy, played in the vain of Bad Religion. ‘Slut’ follows a similar pattern to ‘Everything Must Go’, especially with the killer hook in the chorus. The album as a whole, has many stand-out tracks that make for an awesome record.

In a nut-shell, SOS plays some hard core rock n roll. Their songs are genuine, solid and the band definitely has an edge. Be it metal or punk, these guys make every genre sound like it’s their forte. With a solid album under their belts, with more than a handful of mentionable songs, the band is destined for bigger and better things. Look for more from these talented muscians!

Rating: 4/5