But they put a new spin on the brand of hard rock championed by bands like Karnivool and The Butterfly Effect, adding a distinctive darker Incubus flavour, especially when it comes to the emotive, if not quite soaring, vocals of singer Kyle McGeary.

This dark, brooding alterna-prog vibe is the foundation on which their self-released debut EP, In Superposition, is built; but through 30 minutes of material they demonstrate of litany of styles and influences, ranging from the alt-acoustic and piano rock threaded through most of the tracks to a Pelican-like post-metal sound most evident on closing track "E.I.A.P.S.".

This gives the album a powerful sense of fluidity above the tight musicianship and rhythmic, Tool-like grooves that underpin it. The dynamic interplay of these two elements elevates In Superposition above all but the very best in Australian alternative/progressive rock of today.

"Light Fumes" opens the score with an off-kilter, rhythmic groove while showing of McGeary's powerful vocals from the very first chorus. Clean guitars and subtle piano lines weave their way through the verses, building to a cescendo of crunchy guitars and screamed vocals.

A lone piano introduces the second track "The Figure, The Ghost", with bass, drums and guitars slowly making themselves heard. A megaphone-filtered vocal line hints at effects (both vocal and instrumental) which will be used to greater extent later on, but the main verse of the track seems to lose its way, not really going anywhere. Eventually, the dynamic inter-weaving of the various guitar and piano melodies build up more and more, leading to a very full, Isis-like finish.

These build-ups and crescendos are one of the main selling points of the album for me, Gust Of Gravity really seem to have mastered the act of heightening a mood and gradually introducing new melodies and rhythms, building the sense of tension further with an explosion of power, before quickly sweeping the floor out from under you with a swift calm-down or immediate stop.

"Sporadic" and "Atrophy" both continue this full-bodied texture, again using a piano melody above a rock band at full volume, giving the music a pleasantly uneasy dynamic.

The un-named fifth index on the CD (which iTunes named "SexFarmSounds" after querying an online database) hints at bands like Led Zeppelin, The Mars Volta and Template with a spacey collection of reversed voices, scratchy, percussive effects and even a sampled cow. I would love to know what was being said by playing the music backwards, perhaps it has something to do with the rather curious name.

"Uncertain Ending" is clearly the stand-out track of the EP. A head-bobbing, neck-swaying introduction, the grooviest bass you'll ever hear, great rhythm, passionate vocals, it's got everything. Where "The Figure, The Ghost" seemed too long, "Uncertain Ending" left me wishing it would keep going longer, but luckily the next and final track, "E.I.A.P.S.", is just as good.

A soft piano introduction makes way for some crunching, heaving guitars, a wandering bass line, and sporadic off-time craziness. The drumming drives the track through the ups and downs with fluidity and ease, before suddenly bringing the album to an abrupt close.

For a short album, it feels a lot longer than it is. If Coldplay is the fairy floss of the music world, sugary and light, then the rhythm, groove, harmony and dynamics of In Superposition make Gust Of Gravity a hearty 1kg steak.

www.myspace.com/gustofgravity