POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Engines Rev It Up at the Whisky

Living up to the “next big thing from L.A.” tag, newcomers Engines of Aggression turned in a brief but powerful set at the Whisky on Friday.

The quartet, together less than a year, purveys a heavy, modern, industrial-tinged musical assault--complete with sampling and a mix of live and electronic drums--yet shows a warmth that bands like Nine Inch Nails sometimes lack.

Fronted by intense, Mohawk-haired singer Tripp, Engines of Aggression, in a nine-song, 35-minute performance, showed why the industry buzz on the group has been so loud. While mesmerizingly unrelenting and insistent, the band was never sterile or repetitive: musically, EOA incorporate shades of everything from Bauhaus to Iggy Pop, and even opts for a fairly straightforward rock song in the memorable “Slippin’ Away.”

Though Engines of Aggression, which just released a six-song EP called “Speak,” may be striking while the industrial-music iron is hot, the quartet shouldn’t have to deal with a backlash: There’s no reason why Engines of Aggression, given its cohesive amalgamation of styles, commanding stage presence and often political-leaning lyrics, should be relegated to a flavor of the month.