All hall the overdriven amp, the feedback-saturated guitar pickup, the hum of harmonic sustain, the clamorous collision of power chords in the heart of the sonic maelstrom. Let us bow our heads in the direction of New York City and pray for deliverance from mindless metal riffs and warmed-over grunge. Let us now praise Band of Susans.

BOS are a different kind of guitar band. Instead of locking themselves into lead and rhythm role-playing, the group's three guitarists collaborate in the shaping of a soaring sonic architecture, subsuming individual identities in a volatile but highly focused group aesthetic. As conceived by founding guitarist/singer/songwriter Robert Poss, the BOS sound involves equal parts guitar formalism and Stonesy swagger. But Poss and bassist/singer/songwriter Susan Stenger, despite their avant-garde backgrounds, seem to value group chemistry more than concept. In other words, this is a rock & roll band.

On Veil, their fifth album, Band of Susans deliver the songs as well as the sound. Tunes like "Mood Swing," "Not in This Life," "Trouble Spot" and the sublime "Blind" unfurl sharp, bold melodies over stick-in-your-head ensemble riffs. Ron Spitzer's drums kick and snap, and Stenger's bass lines provide melodic as well as rhythmic backbone. Guitarists Poss, Anne Husick and Mark Lonergan are also developing a noisier, nastier but still coherently thematic brand of collective improvisation, showcased in the instrumental rave "Trollbinders Theme." Mayhem and transcendence, sweetness and bite: The thought of what these people might accomplish with a more substantial recording budget is almost frightening.

Veil is available from Restless Records, 1616 Vista Delmar Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028. (RS 664)

ROBERT PALMER