Contrary to the cover art and title, one need not be an acolyte of diabolism to enjoy the sounds contained on this disc. In fact, the title refers to the release date of June 6, 2006.

It's refreshing and encouraging for this longtime punk rock aficionado to hear the stylistic diaspora of the four New York State bands featured here.

Warwick's Casket Architects are the wild card of the bunch. Effectively fusing Sabbath-style dirges and ramalama hardcore vocals, the Architects push the boundaries of the form with dollops of experimental industrial noise and electronic vocal effects that recall pre-major label Devo and LA synth-punk pioneers The Screamers. "Echo Dementoid" winds through churning guitars, manic drum fills, and carnival-like production before grinding into cacophony that would've made Throbbing Gristle proud.

Kingston's Dead Unicorn offers classic low-end sludge rock. The duo's heaviosity dwarfs everything else on the record, and physically affects the listener. Playing against type, the band contributes the standout track of the album, "We All Burn Together," an acoustic, windswept lament to the natural retribution of communal death in a volcanic eruption. The tone is funereal and apocalyptic in an Old Testament sort of way.

Waterford's Plastic Jesus delivers straight-forward punk with the social realist themes of Rancid and Social Distortion, while Albany's Blasé Debris mines the horror-punk genre with production assistance from latter-day Misfits vocalist Michael Graves.

I've penned on about Aliza Hava before, and with good reason: I'm a complete sucker for raspy, unyielding vox over wickedly dynamic guitar, this chick being no exception. A political activist who recently returned from Israel, the self-monikered FireMusicFaerie has just released her 12-track, self-produced Rise. Perhaps you think you've spun this one before, but you haven't—this is a full-throttle follow-up to the 2003 recording of the same name. The distinction here is that Hava has magnified her sound and production, coming off richer and more loaded than ever before with five players behind her on bass, drums, synth, mandolin, and guitars. Some favorite gems appear again—"Independent Nation," "Julia," the title track, and several others—but they are thoroughly revamped. Additional, brand-spankin' new grrrl-power tracks with mellow-ish rock grooves continue to reveal the ever-hopeful, enormous heart of this babe, beckoning listeners to sift their souls for nuggets of a higher good.

Sure to charm fans of Tracy Chapman and Ani DiFranco, and lesser-known Hudson Valley powerhouses such as Journey Blue Heaven and Shamsi Ruhe, this indomitable sister never fails to pack a punch. www.alizahava.com.

Aliza Hava performs with Liana Turner and Siobhan on October 21 at 8pm at Mezzanine Bookstore, Cafe, and Wine Bar, 79 Broadway, in Kingston's Rondout.

This Woodstock resident has cultivated a classic jazz performance for her latest offering. With a sassy style reminiscent of Sarah Vaughn, Nancy Donnelly's smooth and smoldering vocals are matched with a band that can shift from standard to eccentric without double clutching. Their interactions are silky and clean. A Greater Love features pianist Peggy Stern, bassist Jay Anderson, drummer Matt Wilson, and saxophonist Jack Ryon. On the first track, "Close Your Eyes," a romantic uptempo lounge tune, Donnelly's seductive voice pulls you into a Latin-influenced lullaby. Romance is on the menu here and creates the perfect stage for the singer to act out her dreamy passion play. Donnelly wrote and arranged the complex instrumental "Why Can't It Be?," which begins on uncertain feet but quickly finds a solid groove and swings. She shows her versatility on "Alone Together" with a righteous scat-singing performance. Local jazz fans should check Donnelly's calendar of upcoming appearances at nancydonnalleyvocals.com, as well as www.cdbaby.com for clips from A Greater Love.