L.A.'s Qui is a powerful band featuring the vocal talents of David Yow from The Jesus Lizard/Scratch Acid fame. The group (of two) has been around since 2000, but Yow only came on in 2006 to make it a trio. With his name attached, you just know Qui isn't for the softies.

This is heavy, sludgy, guttural stuff with those deep, distorted and well-placed guitar tones that remind you of the Steve Albini school of kicking ass. Or the Melvins. You can consider Qui's songs as mostly minimalistic. There's only a guitarist, a drummer and Yow, so there's not a whole lot of layering going on.

Their riffs and thumps and wails take their time getting to the punch. But punch they do. Yow's album debut with Qui will be released be Mike Patton's (ex-Faith No More) Ipecac Recordings. Rock it.

Qui play The Echo, on Tuesday, September 11th.