"Crush" is a 2002 release by the Atlanta, Georgia heavy hitting band Transmission. This CD shows how polished and defined Transmission's music is. The music is very passionate, but calculated. "Crush" raises the bar for independent CD releases.

Melody - 9
Jason Roby is able to create solid melodies above Transmissions heavy background. The vocals are extremely complimentary to the overall sound. The other instruments allow the melodies to carry throughout the CD.

Arrangement - 10
Both smooth and precise, the transitions allow the songs to flow during tempo and voicing changes. Unlike music in this catagory, Transmission is able to allow the song to become its own entity instead of a medium to show off their abilities. The guitarist Tommy Thompson is able to produce riff melodies while not taking away from the orchestration. The bass player Sword is also allowed to explore more than just doubling the guitar. The bass is able to follow the extraordinary drum work of Josh Hack to solidify the arrangements.

The band is able to create diverse music without sounding forced. All of the songs on "Crush" have very complex arrangements. They are able to harness each instrument to produce very compelling songs.

Passion - 10
Transmission's music has a very dark quality. Most music in this genre becomes very cold. Transmission is able to use their musicianship to create real feeling. The lyrics aid the music in an emotionally revealing release.

Production Quality - 9
The CD has excellent production quality. It has an great mix that allows the nuances of the songs to be exposed. None of the instruments are lost in a wall of sound.

Packaging - 9
The packaging is great. Its sleeve and backing are printed well. The CD has a unique printing, which helps identify it. It is above most indie packaging standards.

"Crush" reveals each member's skill at their instrument. Transmission uses their abilities to create something that is unified. "Crush" is musically a better CD than many mainstream artists in the same catagory. Transmission brings new life to hard rock.