Alternately aggressive and pensive, Ocean-Beach-based quintet Lumivore tumbles listeners with energetic syncopated riffs, eerie vocal harmonies, thundering / kiltering drums, and agile yet imposing bass -- with guitars that range from gritty to pretty and rippin' to trippin'.

The colorful tones can sometimes mask the darkly-themed lyrics about poverty, war-profiteering, and tales of murderous biker thugs -- but sometimes they offer up a candlelight with promises of enduring love despite all the impermanence,

Like an affectionate cat, this album might leave a few scratches, but it will still purr in your lap.