BY ERIK STABILE—Don’t have Over Vert’s new album, Gagging + Swallowing? Then here’s a substitute: take every violent occurrence since the big bang, stuff into massive cannon and point at face. No, I’m not quoting Alan Watts, but rather describing Over Vert, a band that plays with calculated ferocity over a beautiful pallet of concrete waves.  

The band’s seven track album is short, like a fuse. So my only suggestion is to listen to it twice, three times, or whatever it takes to let the aggressive lyrical content  soak in, or rather stain your inner ear with prose of snuff flicks, dicks, tortillas, explosives and a little bit of love.  

That’s so punk rock, I thought after my first listen. Every song seems to put the listener into a state of anxiety and discord, giving them only one option, move or fall into a state of panic, perfect for any skateboard-wielding lunatic. 

Morgan Travis sings with effort that amounts to a drowning man overboard, fighting for air. Scaught, Chris and Justin play with the same fighting effort. 

The album art, illustrated by Omar Pierce, seems to match Over Vert’s sound and style perfectly. It’s chaotic yet complete. I would gladly pay an extra few dollars if the inside cover folded out into a full poster of Omar’s artistic vision.   

Gagging + Swallowing is a true quality not quantity album. Rightfully so, as the album was recored by the great Steve Albini, who once upon a time, engineered the records of many great musicians such as Nirvana, Pixies and The Stooges.  

Check out Over Vert at http://www.myspace.com/oververt or pick up Gagging + Swallowing at Dicology of Reno at 190 California Ave., Suite 201B.