10:21

Part of New York City only by namesake, Staten Island is often referred to as the forgotten Borough. The 60 square mile island is not accessible to Manhattan by any direct tunnel, bridge, or subway line, only a ferry. Literally, so close and still so far away from the now-legendary rock clubs that most city rockers clamor to play, guitarist Spider and bassist Marco Messina sought similar minded recruits in a scene very different than downtown Manhattan's. Wanting to break the back of their paradoxical suburbia, when Ten Twenty One finally came together in late 2001, it did so with a loud roar.
The aggro-groove of all things 10:21 is dark, rhythmic and melodic. Like a jigsaw puzzle, where every piece connects to finally form a picture of a garden scene, each song is masterfully arranged out of obtuse odds and ends. The 10:21 picture, however, is far from a pretty one.

Ten Twenty One straddles a precarious line between the ugly and melodic. Four of the six members are contributing vocalists with frontman Tanka leading this gruff assault. Adam Pellagrini's vocal responses, however, are always melodic and almost hypnotic bringing to mind the vocal styling of Perry Farrell's "Nothing's Shocking" era.

While contemporaries heavies like fling flaming arrows pointed with socio-political shout-outs, 10:21 lyrics are just as forward but far more cerebral. Holding a mirror in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other, the band not only encourages, but also insists that you look at yourself and then dig deep beneath your skin to the very essence of your motivations.

In the midst of the punch and pull between melody and aggression, six guys from New York City's forgotten Borough have stumbled upon the perfect blend of hardcore, hip hop and metal and made it their own. There is no doubt that 10:21 will only get louder until the whole world is left cross-eyed from their earnest assault.