Slug? Not for Sale? The cover art to your left? How could this not be album of the year material? Sarcasm aside, Brazil-rooted Slug are a hard rock outfit that have existed since 1992, but have only unleashed three full-lengths since their inception – Shattered in 1997, Points of View in 2002, and Not for Sale (which is for sale, actually) in 2005. And while plenty of the 10 tracks feature above average songwriting skills, this isn’t exceptional in any area.

Oddly enough, Cascelli sounds too similar to James Hetfield (Metallica), though not to the degree of being a carbon copy like Joe Chambless of Eternal Decision. So thinking of a watered-down Hetfield when absorbing Not for Sale undoubtedly leads to grinning and chuckling, but those are intermittently subdued by the utter panache that this quartet fling around consistently. Slug can play, the guitar-led hooks of “Not for Sale” sink into the skin and burrow effortlessly, whereas melody-tinged compositions such as “I Believe in My Lies,” “Salvation,” and “I Always Wanna Change” are more inviting for those who have aversion to sudden abrasion. It’s not as if these guys are incredibly heavy, though. The main problem, however, is that their latest fails to impress, and the occasional broken English makes for a few unintentional laughs on the part of the audience.

Judging by their promotional items and local press, Slug are loved in their home country of Brazil, having won various awards, prizes, honors, parting gifts, et cetera. On my end, though, I’d like to think I speak for the everyman when I say that this particular effort is on the unfulfilling side of the fence. Nonetheless, I believe the elements for success are hiding somewhere within this foursome – it’s just a matter of extricating them. But above all, Not for Sale isn’t nearly as unappealing as it looks.