Reviewing Sick Puppies’ Connect

Maybe it’s because of that old industrial band Skinny Puppy, but the name “Sick Puppies” drums up thoughts of gnarly, ugly industrial punk – heavy as almighty hell and not at all pretty. So it’s incredibly disappointing that what we have here is a couple (one guy, one girl) of Australians who look like they model clothes for Hot Topic. Yes, the band has been together since ’97, but it has managed to hover around without making any real impact on a saturated pop-metal market, besides shifting a few units. The Sick Puppies are just kinda there. The music is generic and completely devoid of inspiration. It’s like Evanescence decided to let Coldplay and Maroon 5 take turns writing for them. You feel that shiver - the cold fear that stems from the thought of a fashion-led artistic wasteland? Get used to it, because that feeling gropes you with clammy paws throughout Connect. It’ll probably sell millions.