One Day as Lion. Deliciously Indie.

This is not a super group – it’s an ultra dynamic duo akin to Batman and Robin, with roles reversed. Zack de la Rocha leads, nimble and limber, skippin’ and swingin’ like Cassius upon the fascists. Jon Theodore brings out his full utility belt, an even handed arsenal of late day Neil Peart and John Bonham bombastics. Trading the sonic tricks they learned from soundmasters Tom Morello and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, respectively, Mario C mans the cave, producing a record that is crisp and abrasive, with well timed space whirls and cutting samples.

Though only an EP, it’s clear that potential is here. De la Rocha’s electric eclectic rhyme style shows no rust, coming through distorted and reverbed as if the one day is here and now. Lyrically, Zack’s attack is as sharp as ever and pulls no political punches, advising the inactive that “if you fear dying than you’re already dead.” Adding to the mathematics of the outfit, he merges fierce screams with punk vocals, rasta rasp and his newest weapon of choice, the keyboard. With the wash of frequency you’d guess it was guitar, but de la Rocha keeps it chord free, birthing what could be called “punk hop” – one note lines and intervals, with the left hand on bass and the right on melody. While his playing skill sometimes comes off as kids stuff, credit is due for a man who can do this much with what seems the barest effort.

Will One Day have the mainstream success of Rage, or Audioslave? Perhaps not. Most Rage fans are over their own faux activism, and considering the content and delivery, de la Rocha and Theodore might be more satisfied on the indie side. Bottom line: One Day as a Lion is clever noise band duo whose simple and rugged attack matches in subtle eloquence.