The Mission Veo are a dark indie/electro/post-punk band from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 2004, they have played with several notable artists, including Peter Murphy, Deadstar Assembly, 3OH!3, and the 2008 Vans Warped Tour. Their album 'Strangers' (2007) was recently re-released in Europe by Spiralchords Records. Already having quite the following in the states, The Mission Veo are now set to make their mark on the European market, playing festivals like M'era Luna.

'Fuchsia' kicks things off fast and heavy, as a dramatic voice chimes "You're gonna pay for your ways." 'The Jacket' is a bouncy, rocking number with an angular, resonating guitar riff and saltating bass line. The opening of 'Photo' is all echoey delayed Joy Division majesty before jetting into a fast-paced Killers-esque number. Ben Davenport's guitars on 'New York Scum' are reminiscent of The Sisters of Mercy circa 1985, and with its memorable, piercing chorus: "I wanna dance, I wanna dance to the disco- are you listening?" the track struts along like one of the finest moments off of The Psychedelic Fur's 'Forever Now.' This is dark dance rock, no more no less, and therein lies the simple key to the album's success.

Songs, like 'Love Will Eat Itself' and 'Nowhere' all display a similar modus operandi: jagged post punk guitars, desperate vocals and a commanding rhythm section; in fact, the stars of many of the standout tracks on 'Strangers' are bassist Ryan Nolan, who provides a hefty, bass awash in post punk gloom that would make even Peter Hook envious and Karsten Andersen's furious pounding of the skins.

The record has no shortage of memorable one-liners either: "I wanna slap that look off your face- ugly has become the new beautiful..." lead singer Johnthan Ellis croons in 'Modern Rules'; on 'Ordinary Life', Ellis laments with his best Robert Smith quaver: "Life is what happens when you don't see it coming."

Overall, this is one of the more impressive albums I've heard in awhile. Genre-wise, it's not as groundbreaking as something like Interpol's 'Antics,' and while there is nothing especially new here, The Mission Veo rely on an inspired pastiche of modern indie aesthetic, 80s nostalgia and danceable pop hooks that is hard to ignore. The main problem with 'Strangers' is that no song honestly stands out more than the other after a few listens. Nevertheless, the record is pounding, kinetic riot rock that will appeal not only to fans of retro dark dance music like The Sisters of Mercy and The Psychedelic Furs, but also to fans of Interpol, She Wants Revenge, The Killers, and Bloc Party.