Starting in 2012, New York's DRIVEN MAD have released one EP "Disorder" previous to this latest 5 song EP "Committed". They consider their music metal - a combination of Thrash, Power, Crossover, and tons of Groove. Expect a lot of gang-oriented choruses, a main vocalist in Sam Walters who channels the best imitation of a maniacal amalgamation of Glenn Danzig meets Keith Caputo, and a sonic outlook that doesn't relent in its pursuit of pummeling fist to face cut after cut.

What is enjoyable about DRIVEN MAD can be their occasional disjointed riff construction, leaning on the edge of Modern Metal and yet still viable for the Thrash community to accept. Check out the Middle-Eastern inflections meets semi-CONFESSOR like riff palate thrown at the listener during "Dead Slow" and you'll be hard pressed not to move your body or mind in one way or another. AT THE GATES, MESHUGGAH, METALLICA, and even a touch of the always impressive GOJIRA comes into play- although vocally DRIVEN MAD certainly are much more melodic and I feel this juxtaposition gives the listener a fresh platform to enjoy.

"I Am the Mountain" is certainly the most commercially viable song of the five, the slow, swaying main riff from Dmitri Kalmar in line with the much missed ONLY LIVING WITNESS from their "Prone Mortal Form" debut album days. The EP concludes with another semi-maze like arrangement in "Vertigo", the vocals again full of personal warped madness while the riffs and rhythms are semi-technical and progressive yet still crushingly heavy.

This would be a good representation of what I'd expect from the band live. Hopefully their next release will be on a record label that can push them to more people - as I doubt they'll remain underground for long.