Released in October 2009 and produced by Mike Borkosky (Lotus Magnet, Rex Goudie), the "Cruel Temptation" EP boasts a powerful, straightforward approach to hard rock with strong, irresistible melodies. All three members of Modified are young yet impressive musicians. Jones (yes, he’s simply known as Jones) provides the band’s tight nucleus on drums, while guitarist Anthony Xander delivers hard-hitting riffs, ringing solos, and understated back-up harmonies. Tricia Stanley is the ideal singer for a band of this nature. Her mid-range vocals can be sultry, sensitive, or lively, depending on the song’s mood. Whip up all these ingredients along with a dash of subtle keyboards, and the finished concoction is a tasty treat you’ll devour in the 19 minutes it plays from beginning to end.

The "Cruel Temptation" EP kicks off with the buoyant title track. Gritty guitars chop along with a lively beat and a catchy chorus you’ll sing along to after just a few listens. Tricia offers some terrific rhymes ("It’s my burden, never learning / Feel this yearning, I’ll never leave"), making this song a surefire candidate for radio airplay. Or, that’s what you think until you listen to the next song, "Selfless Lies." Soft piano notes play in the background while Anthony’s urgent riffs and Tricia’s impassioned voice take center stage. What truly gives this song a soul, though, is Tricia and Anthony’s harmonic interplay on back-up vocals. They convey despair, brooding, even sensuality – a rather compelling mix of emotions for a mainstream song.

The three remaining tracks on the EP are just as diverse as the first two. "When I Wake" begins as a lamenting ballad before shifting into its energetic chorus, while "Unfinished Game" is unrelenting with alternating fast and slow rhythms under Tricia’s bitter lyrics: "Can’t you see that I’ve become your own worst enemy? / I have learned to overcome my darkest fantasy." The latter song opens with high-pitched, arpeggiated guitar chords that are almost a dead-ringer of the guitar intro to Guns N’ Roses’ "Sweet Child O’ Mine." "Threetwoone" is perhaps the weakest song on the EP. It’s just as crunchy and hook-filled as the other tracks, but its pervading pop influence trips over the changes in time signature. The listener expects those last beats but is left hanging on the incomplete bars as Modified chugs on to the next line.

Besides that, the only other stumbling block on the "Cruel Temptation" EP is its lack of variety in tempo. All five songs are either uptempo or midtempo, so none of them can be considered ballads. This makes sense for the raw, energetic approach that Modified has taken. But, while there are slower moments in "Selfless Lies" and "When I Wake," you’re left wondering after a few spins of this EP what a true Modified ballad would sound like. Including just a couple of these on future releases would add more versatility to Modified’s sound and help it compete with similar, more well-known bands such as Halestorm and Lacuna Coil (who both have ballads on their most recent albums).

But, this is an EP, after all. It’s only meant to be a teaser. And, "Cruel Temptation" is one heck of a tease. Everything about Modified’s music, from the heady, solid hard rock to the excellent melodies and Tricia’s raw vocals, commands your attention and leaves you wanting to hear more. It’s also accessible and enjoyable without compromising the quality of the music. Not many bands can do that these days, or even sound this good so early in their careers. That’s what makes Modified’s debut EP a diamond in the rough. Now, let’s see what this band can do when they make a full-length album.

8 / 10

Best Songs: "Selfless Lies," "Unfinished Game"

Recommended for fans of Flyleaf, Halestorm, Lacuna Coil’s most recent works ("Karmacode," "Shallow Life"), and other female-fronted hard rock bands

Modified’s "Cruel Temptation" EP is currently not available at the Sonic Cathedral Store. However, you can purchase it from iTunes, Amazon, or CDbaby.