Ready? Start your motors. I think it is safe to say that a lot of us - male of female - feel a certain magnetic pull towards the elite bearers of internal combustion engines. They combine some of the most instinctually desirable aspects that rattle our daring curiosities. The mechanical components are marvels of the mind, the design, a thing of beauty, and in their totality they encompass a creation of utter power. I am far from a "gear-head" - I don't even drive - but even I reserve an overt affection for the metal stallions of the modern world. And DEFECTO's "Exluded" is one such animal. However, there is more to it than pistons and plugs. Beneath all the oil and transmission fluid there is a soul that simply yearns for the human touch.

"Excluded" kicks the clutch with the title track and without remorse, ravishes the rev counter. Groovy riffs and rolling drums rumble through the speakers like an oversized exhaust; that is how they ride. Tracks like "When Daylight Dies" and "Don't Lose Yourself" are metal monsters, engineered by the band to scour the record with overdriven delights. There are banging riffs, big choruses and streamlined melodies, all created to make those adrenaline glands squirt straight into the cerebral motor without pulling back on the throttle.

From the moment of ignition, every track has energy and confidence. Yet there is more to this offering than speed and vigour. The song-writing on tracks like "Rage" -a passion-filled marvel - "Desperate Addict" and "Drifting Into Blackness" is poignant, intelligent, and most of all, captivating. DEFECTO demonstrate that they are more than just a musically talented Prog quartet; they are bonafide composers. Yes, the shred factor is strong, the Progressive elements are abundant, but their tanks are also filled with emotional force and intimate drive that make them soar across the finish line uncontested.

The production is pristine, creating an absolutely bedazzling listening experience. And of course, the performances of the band members are flawless. Vocalist Nicklas Sonne has the ability to generate multiple personalities, which range from a man buried in turmoil to a sanguine fighter of omnipotent powers. His cleans are gritty and yet absolutely enchanting, and when he unleashes the demon within, his screaming/growling would be the envy of any creature in the worlds beyond. The rhythm section is a force in its own right, holding this aggregate by the reins and driving it home. And of course, when it comes to any genre of Metal, we have to talk about the guitars. The axe-grinding partnership of vocalist Sonne and guitarist Frederik Møller is an agency of sheer string-immolating shredding. The attitude laced rock licks and the flawless scale runs will get even the most prudent of listeners ready for an orgy. And most importantly, you can really feel them digging into their instruments with every muscle under the hood. The guitar tones too are pure girth and streak the tracks leaving behind an aroma of burned rubber amidst gasps of exhilaration.

In conclusion, it doesn't matter whether you're a mechanic, a racer, an engineer or a teen on a joy-ride, DEFECTO's "Excluded" is a '67 Mustang that makes even the most devout patron of the sidewalk ache to get behind the wheel. If you're a Prog fan, then this just might be your next favourite band, and if you're not, well, the same goes for you.<