by Stephen Thomas ErlewineIcky Mettle, Archers of Loaf's debut album, became just enough of an underground hit to scare the band away from most of their pop instincts. Filled with unexpected, jarring shards of noise and melodies that never quite manage to be catchy, Vee Vee relies more on attitude and energy than their previous records. It's an approach that works -- for all their oblique song structures and overt noise, Archers of Loaf is a band that can rock hard. With the harder rhythms and jerky guitars, the group can usually obscure the elliptical hooks by just rocking out, which means the album is a bracing listen, yet not an engaging one.