This week’s review is on a band that is relatively new to the genre. Named after the popular novel, Of Mice & Men released their first, self-titled album in this past March.The band was created by the ex Attack Attack! vocalist, Austin Carlile. Since the release of the CD, Austin has also left OM&M and has an entirely new band in the making.

Since his work with Attack Attack’s first album, “Someday Came Suddenly”, I have been a huge Carlile fan. He has the most unique vocals in the business-often imitated, but never duplicated.

OM&M’s vocalist is now Jerry Roush, the former vocalist for Sky Eats Airplane. Fans will get to hear Roush’s first recorded track with the band in the upcoming album “Punk Goes Pop 3” as the band covers “Blame It” by Jamie Foxx ft. T-Pain.

The album kicks off with the track “YDG” pronounced, “ya dig?”

The track begins with an awesome guitar riff accompanied by Carlile’s trademarked vocals. About one third through the song we get a taste of something not many people were expecting.

Shayley Bourget is the rhythm guitarist and clean vocalist. His voice, along with Carlile’s, makes up one of the best vocal albums on the market. Bourget’s voice creates some of the catchiest choruses you’ve ever heard.

The third track-and my personal favorite-is called “Second & Sebring.” The song opens with Bourget’s voice along with a choppy guitar riff. Carlile enters soon after and brings the song straight into a couple of catchy breakdowns. Bourget finishes off the track with a great chorus followed by a solo piano riff.

The ten-track album closes out with the track “This One’s For You” that shows just how much talent the two vocalists have. Bourget opens with his own verse followed by Carlile. The album finishes with an impressive15-second scream from Carlile accompanied by a breakdown that slowly fades out.

Of Mice & Men’s first self-titled album earns a four out of five. The vocals are certainly what make the album great, but instrumentals should be just as memorable. If OM&M can bring their instrumentals to the same level as the vocals in their next album, it will be one of the best records made in the past few years.

Check out Of Mice & Men’s new cover of “Blame It” coming out November 2 on the album “Punk Goes Pop 3” as well as their MySpace at www.myspace.com/ofmice and give a listen to their debut album available on iTunes.