There are a lot of top-notch local CDs being released these days. Adding to the weight of this statement is the fact that I’m not a big fan of hip-hop or rap. So it came as a complete shock when I popped Epidimic’s Wicked Realms into my player. A unique sound mixed with some powerhouse talent wrapped in a professional sounding production, and all this from little-old Pierceton, Indiana. Who knew so much quality could come from the sticks?

Epidimic are not what most folks would expect from the heartland of corn and bibles. Group members Droopy Jeezus and Crac Kajac may draw from the same roots as Cypress Hill, Rehab, Insane Clown Posse and X-ecutioners, but they create a sonic scheme that is truly their own.

The album explodes with “What?” – a pulsing backbeat driving angry machine-gun bursts of lyrics. “What?” sets the mood for the journey into Wicked Realms.

A tasty bass run propels “Days of Daze.” Throughout the track a cocky, crunchy guitar adds tension, thickening the refrain. It’s a shame that more area clubs aren’t open to groups like Epidimic. “Days of Daze” would easily prove to be a crowd favorite. At the very least it makes 8 Mile look like a playground.

“Until You Die” smolders with a horror-core gloom, swinging both low key and funky. It contains my favorite lyric: “but I keep it real though, kicking with the steel toe.” I’m a sucker for a good boot lyric. From Ice Cube’s “walking and stomping in my big black boots” to Cypress Hill’s “How’s it feel though with my boot stuck in that ass like a …” (okay, this one’s not family friendly, so I’m going to stop right there). Basically the point I’m getting at is: hooks don’t mean a thing if the words don’t flow and connect to the listener. Epidimic deliver with style.

“March On” lunges out as another stellar track. It boasts a chant-along chorus with venom-drenched rhymes – “put down the good book and raise some hell!” Headphones amplify the nuances of “March On.” The streetwise and impressive production make this song, along with the rest of the album, a head above most local releases.

It is easy to please the record-buying public. Go with the flow, delivering to the masses what they’re comfortable with and they’ll gobble it up. Bucking this trend, Epidimic have displayed genuine talent. Even though Wicked Realms treads a music genre I hate, their CD has found steady rotation in my stereo. Without sacrificing integrity they have busted down boundaries to infect a wider audience.

Soon everyone will be able to catch Epidimic at www.epidimic.com or by e-mail through epidimic@hotmail.com.