Kittie - Oracle

On Spit, Kittie's 1999 debut, the just-out-of-high-school all-female quartet were an anomaly, giving the male-dominated metal scene a run for its money thanks to the Canadian lineup's near death-metal heaviness. On sophomore outing Oracle, minus original guitarist Fallon Bowman, Kittie rock harder than ever, yet lack the memorable songs required from a band of any gender or genre. In songs like "Mouthful of Poison," Morgan Lander's often ethereal, decidedly feminine vocals contrast with bassist Talena Atfield's death-metal growls. That, along with ferocious double-bass drums and extreme aggression, are the band's hallmarks, broken up by a Kittie-ized cover of Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" and "Safe," a spare, spooky and excellent departure in a sea of heavy sameness. Ultimately, Oracle's most redeeming quality is that of a role model for frustrated teenage girls, proving that, indeed, women are allowed to vent their rage and compete with men on the same playing field. --Katherine Turman