C’mon, any band that has been called “Can Meets Pere Ubu” is worth a listen, right? And a band that comes from that legendary home of art/noise/sludge, Cleveland, to boot? How could Terminal Lovers not be a winner? Well, it IS a winner, and more so, as any spin to the sloppy glory of As Eyes Burn Clean will prove. Guitarist/singer Dave Cintron (Scarcity of Tanks) is surrounded by many Cleveland punk veterans, including former Keelhaul guitarist Chris Smith and two (!) drummers.

“Press The Bank” kicks things off, a sludgy, fuzzy missive that sounds like it was recorded in a slaughterhouse. “Ion Gate” almost seems like a pop tune in comparision, but only because it has a chord. Sarcastic or not, tribal bass &percussion help kickstart a quasi Eastern guitar/metal groove that instantly consigns most prog-rock heroes to the dustbin. “Shadow Driver” is old-school Stooges, and “Steve Ashby” is one of the wierdest tracks ever: an almost ambient sludge tune, barely there but for some fits and starts before “kicking in” with a lo-fi finale that is almost seizure inducing.

The title track is a greasy three section jam that parties like it’s 1972. Noise, punk, doom, minimalist all brew until the finale “Sun, Lit Rings’” BIG riff outro brings it all down to a majestic close.

“As Eyes Burn Clean” will certainly clean out your ears and make room for new sounds, while at the same time squeegy-ing your Third Eye clean of dross. Viva Terminal Lovers! 8/10 -- Mike Wood (14 January, 2010)