After a 6 month hiatus the Rabbits are back and ready to get loud this Saturday at Lady of the Lake much to the delight of their fans around Westman. Taking a cue from Mother Nature the boys began their hibernation right before the snow hit the ground and haven't left the recording room since. The band, which includes Darrin “Dirt Cherewayko on drums, vocalist/bassist Ryan “Fuzzy” Felstead, and Les Mitchell on guitar and vocals, spent many of the winter months locked away in Mitchell's basement recording their fourth album “One State of Being”.

This album took a bit more love from the band as it is the first that 18 Rabbit have recorded entirely on their own without the aid of a studio or producer on site. The band did however send their recordings to Vancouver where their producer Emil Gawaziuk provided the finishing touches (this also allowed for an impromptu trip to Van town for two of the boys of 18 Rabbit all in the name of hard work … although from the stories they told I'm not sure how much work it really was for them). None the less the result was an epic album that flows from beginning to end.

The first track off the album is “Automate”. It is a heart thumping tune that merges the world of rock and the reliance on machines in today's society. Every instrument takes ownership in this song and it is a fantastic start to the album.

If there was to be a hit pop song on the album it would be “Boneyard”. Felstead's voice which is usually rather deep takes on a higher octave for this song and the beat is so catchy you can't help but dance when you listen to it (okay maybe just I can't help to dance to it, but I'm sure I won't be alone on the dance floor on Saturday).

Following Boneyard are “Floored” and “Good Luck”, both of which are your traditional 18 Rabbit rock tunes and they provide a nice blend into what I believe is heart of the album, “Fading Away”.

“Fading Away” was actually the first song that Mitchell and Felstead ever wrote together. It is off of their debut album, “Smoking Gods” and according to Felstead “out of all the songs on that album it is the one that has stood up against the 8 years”. Even so the song itself has grown dramatically from its original version and now features two guest artists. Adrian Kuryliw who plays along with Dirt and Fuzzy in The Poor Boy Rodger Band as well as with Groove Kitchen and Janksta, was approached by the Rabbits to add something to the mix. What resulted was a haunting saxophone sound which adds a great deal of depth to the already amazing song. Another ingredient was the soulful voice of BU student Jess Moskaluke. 18 Rabbit had worked as Moskaluke's backing band a few years ago and were anxious to incorporate her in the album. She adds a feminine touch to the masculine vocals provided by Felstead and Mitchell.

And now for something completely different: at least that's the reaction you get when you move from “Fading Away” into “Gulag”. You almost get into a trans-like state when you listen to “Fading Away” and you are immediately awakened once “Gulag” begins. Followed with “Avatar” or as the boys affectionately call it “the swamp monster song” and “Violate”. It is back to the Rabbit rock, great drums, unique bass lines, and sounds you can't imagine that can possibly be coming from a guitar. These guys are very talented musicians and their chemistry is unmistakable.

Up next is the fastest paced song 18 Rabbit has ever done, “Toe Rag”. This is a hard hitting, head banging, punk rock song if ever there was one. I can hardly wait to see the mosh pit that will begin at Lady of the Lake once this song starts.

The finale is “Lego” and at 8 minutes and 12 seconds long it is a conclusion that will make you remember 18 Rabbit.

The album title “One State of Being” sticks with the Mayan theme as it is a loosely translated name of one of the cultures deities. Every album up to date has incorporated some aspect of the Mayan culture as the name of the band itself derives from one of the most well known Mayan kings. Although when I asked how it came about Mitchell replied “it just sounded cool” and he believes it sums up a lot of what 18 Rabbit is. We are a constant evolving band, our music as well as our influences change all the time and this album is capturing the state we are in now, it could change tomorrow. It is this sentiment that keeps fans coming back to 18 Rabbit. They not only perform but also record their own original music which is a rare and wonderful thing in a city of this size.

It is because of 18 Rabbit's loyal fan base that they were able to score some amazing shows in the last few years with one of the highlights for the band being the opening slot for Buckcherry last December. Kyle Chamberlain, a new media developer and multimedia graduate from ACC, accompanied the band and recorded the concert which has become the DVD 12/28. Along with a few other surprises and special features this DVD shows footage from that concert and is included with the CD “One State of Being”.

For more information go to: 18rabbitrocks.com

*Release concert begins at 8 pm @ Lady of the Lake Pub featuring special guests. Tickets to 18 Rabbit's CD Release are $15 and are available at Lady of the Lake. The cost also includes a copy of their CD “One State of Being” as well as the DVD “18/28”. *