by Greg PratoMetal that's not quite hardcore and hardcore that's not quite metal -- a description that could be attached to quite a few bands circa the early 21st century, and especially to A Static Lullaby. This Chino Hills, CA quintet follows the same formula as countless other Fuse/Headbanger's Ball outfits -- red hot rage, which leads to a coolly melodic part, before -- yes, you guessed it -- collapsing back into a fit of rage. In fact, you could compare A Static Lullaby's sound and approach to three groups that they have shared the stage with at one time or another -- AFI, the Used, and My Chemical Romance. The group's 2006 self-titled CD sees half the group's members, who'd appeared on their first two releases, absent, as original members Phil Pirrone (bass) and Nathan Lindeman (guitars) have been replaced by Dane Poppin and John Death, respectfully. And as heard by such tracks as "Hang 'Em High" and "Annexation of Puerto Rico," the lineup hiccup has not thrown the group off their musical path in the slightest.