Best Local Recording

Inner Psycho - Seven Hill Psychos

They began their quest to find the perfect blend of hardcore and hip-hop almost four years ago (as the East Coast Psychos) -- and that makes 7HP the grandpappies of the Wormtown rapcore scene. Funny thing is, why most have either given up the dream for day jobs or fallen by the wayside, the Psychos continue to plow on as (James Brown aside) the hardest-working band in show biz. You can't go more than 10 days without the band popping up somewhere, and it's even rumored that hardcore female fans time their monthly cycles to the band's gigs.

Nineteen ninety-eight was a breakthrough year for the band so proud of their hometown -- they changed their name to honor it (at a time when everyone else tried to deny their Worm City heritage). They played Detroit Rock City, as well as New York's CBGB. And they released their debut disc, Inner Psycho. With nine original numbers that feature Brian Holbrook's rant-and-rage vocals, Mike Moroney's slash-and-burn guitar, the sledgehammer rhythm section of Bill Coomey and Brian Silver, and secret weapon D.J. Shaboo (also known as mild-mannered Mike Napier when not performing his super-human scratching), Inner Psycho -- and the band -- went on to capture the heart (and vote) of the local music community with album of the year.

The boys are back in the studio working on a second release, which they promise will build on the sonic-motivational lessons spelled out in Inner Psycho. They also plan on delivering their uniquely indigenous Wormtown sound to the rest of New England.

-- John O'Neill