In my mind Eat Skull and tyvekmusic">Tyvjk (yup, they used to be Tyvek) are inextricably linked. It’s partially due to the fact that both band’s first full length discs came out at about the same time last year. But beyond even that, each group utilizes basically the same dynamics to get their songs across. There’s nothing overly indulgent about either group – or its recordings. And it would be a discredit to either group to lump them into the ‘lo-fi’ thing seeing as that moniker seems as senseless as grunge was. And probably both Eat Skull and Tyvjk just consider themselves rock bands. They are.

Listening to both Fast Metabolism and Sick to Death at roughly the same time – but never back to back – I would have given the edge to Detroit’s Tyvek based solely on its ability to work up a chorus I was able to not only sing along to, but have lodged in my mind for a bit too long. That of course doesn’t settle this constructed battle for the dominant, poorly recorded album from last year. And really, that fight probably just doesn’t matter.

Anyway, as Tyvjk releases more and more singles, the Portland crew that assembled to become Eat Skull have recently completed its follow up to Sick to Death. And again, Siltbreeze has seen fit to disseminate this schlock.

The new disc, entitled Wild and Inside, finds the quartet working in roughly the same territory as its last release. I still can’t understand most of what the dudes sing, but it is more than audible that Eat Skull has worked a bit on song craft. That’s not to say that mainstream radio play awaits these dudes, but wading through the dredge of last years release was tantamount to climbing a mountain. And here, it’s almost pleasurable.

A momentary regression comes on “Happy Submarine” as Eat Skull finds no use for traditional percussion, instead utilizing just a tambourine. But even with this echoey and indulgent tune, the band has drawn back on the aural assault that was last years release. And even a few tracks later, the band finds itself amidst an acoustic guitar jam, where you’ll never guess – listeners can actually make out some lyrics.

Now, relating back to comments coming from the lead singer of Psychedelic Horseshit, who coined the term ‘shitgaze,’ which could apply here, has made clear that bands that work in this mold need to make strides forward with each subsequent release – although his band has not. And with both Psychedelic Horseshit and Eat Skull working with the same label, it seems that the latter has been able to come closer to average fidelity than anything from the Columbus trio. But again, this isn’t a three way pissing contest between these dudes , Detroit’s Tyvjk and Psychedelic Horseshit, but there are – again – a number of sensible comparisons to be made.

After Sick to Death has time to sink in, it’ll be interesting to see how these other groups respond. And if this all turns into a Rolling Stones vs. Beatles vs. Beach Boys indie battle, it’s all the more welcomed.