Another from the Sonicbids Promotions group this one being LO-PAN.  LO-PAN is a very interesting combination of some strange elements from TOOL-esque moments as well as some excellent Southern tinged Metal.  It is very odd combination to imagine, but comes out quite nicely.
LO-PAN started out in Columbus, Ohio.  They have tour with bands like BIG BUSINESS and ATOMIC BITCHWAX as well as several others.
The first track from their EPK is Hills Are Alive.  This particular track I think stands out from the other two not because its better, it just has a slightly different sound from the others.  The guitar riff in this track reminds me quite a bit of ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY or CORROSION OF CONFORMITY.  There is even a part in the breakdown towards the end of the song that distinctly reminds me of CROWBAR oddly enough.
On Mustmiss the vocals totally take me by surprise since they don't sound really that similar to the first track.  They remind me quite bit of Maynard James Keenan or the singer from EARSHOT whose name escapes me, mostly on the chorus though.  The bass line from this track also reminds greatly of a Justin Chancellor (TOOL) bass line and my foot doesn't really stop stomping til the end of the track, the drums don't help me stopping either; since the drummer does sick fills among other things.
Once again the instrumentation reminds me greatly of TOOL, but with a very fuzzy kind of Southern guitar sound.  Kill To Blame reminds a lot of FU MANCHU more in this song though, the TOOL-esqueness doesn't stick around very long in this number.  Around the 2:00 minute mark is what the song really leads the listen to, which is an awesome groove and sound that you gotta hear.  The song slows down to a almost Doom sound, very nice indeed.
Anyone that seriously enjoys some fuzzy guitars, slick bass, and foot stomping drums for sure needs to pick up this album.  I would recommend it anyone that is a fan of the bands above, perhaps not as much if you are a bigger TOOL since sometimes TOOL fans can be snobby about their music.  Essentially LO-PAN is an above average Southern Metal band.