Everything in this world changes and it’s no different for Krunk, now known as Kottak. The band has a completely new outlook and their release “therupy” on Escapi Records has been molded into a classic sound. Kottak is made up of three males and a luscious lady named Athena on the skins, keeping the timing down to a “T.” In the same essence as American Heartbreak, Kottak’s vocals by Jimmy Ratchitt entice you to keep your mind on the tracks.

It’s hard to explain Kottak; they are punk sounding, yet alternative, yet rock all at the same time. They have some whoop-ass tunes and some mediocre ones but Ratchitt puts feeling into his vocals that brings you close and makes you want to hear more. Kind of what Joe Cocker brings to “You’re So Beautiful,” freaky but good.

One unusual thing about the CD is that it opens with a rendition of Cindy Lauper’s “Money Changes Everything.” How many new releases start off with a cover tune? Not many... getting to the meat “Ripped” is a purely melodic song that shows the band’s versatility even with the lyrics “chopped off my head, threw it down the chute, better off dead since you ripped out my heart.” I love how sentimental Kottak is with love stories. Yet the song is killer with or without HEAD. Another good track is “I Miss You” with its’ raspy vocals and a little taste of the guitar work by Whiston as he rocks out for a few seconds. Kottak ends the CD by doing a fantastic rendition of “Holiday” by The Scorpions. It amazes me that on a cover tune that Ratchitt truly shines and shows he has the pipes in the vein of John Wetton of Asia. After hearing “Holiday,” I wished that there were more songs on “therupy” that had great guitar work and the sound that Kottak brings.