There’s not really much to say about rap-metal. It’s a combination of elements that don’t mix all that often. Take something that’s already a bit over the top and obnoxious and include some static behind it and you get the same effect.

The genre became popular for about 5 minutes in the late 1990’s when hardcore douche-bag Fred Durst rocked MTV claiming he “did it all for the nookie.” Turns out after all the Playboy girlfriends and gay music videos, he was the counterfeit.

But rap-metal still has a solid core of bands and artists that seek the same level of popularity that Limp Bizkit no longer has, and fans who are ready to take note. San Francisco natives Zeromind is one of those bands and their latest EP, “Ground Zero” features the heavy hitting style that all acts like them have.

From the very first track on the mini-album, the influences of Pantera and early Korn shine through. The long echoing vocals and quick and heavy riffs dominate the album, with the trade mark melodies of hip hop rhymes and turntable scratches.

But what disappointed me were the oftentimes senseless lyrics and overemotional connotations of anger and fear. On the first track, “Medicate” lead singer Eric “Hendu” Henderson furiously screams, “Violence/I want violence/Bring me violence.”

Now there are a million other songs that have bombarded listeners with this same testosterone-bloated message. What makes this song any different? Nothing. The gross lack of creative expression by this boring succession of lyrics made me quickly skip to the next track.

The influences continue on in “Born Bad.” The vocals sounded so familiar that I had to check the album credits to see if Durst had done a guest spot, but to no avail. The eerie air of the sequential verses created a soft lead and a predictable, yet effective transition into the powerful chorus. By far the best track on the album, “Born Bad” stands out because of the similarities it draws to the band’s influences.

“Ground Zero,” works in small doses. Zeromind’s aggressive and hostile style is definitely an acquired taste, but delivers when appreciated. The tenacious blend of rhythm and timing is often overshadowed by the monotony of lyrics, which gives the album a sour aftertaste. However, true fans of rap-metal will welcome it.

On the band’s Web site the members remark that it is ready to “meet the challenge offered by the new wave of American metal.” If so, this San Francisco sextet will need to rely on their recognizable similarities to their predecessors to gain that foothold.

Josh Hugget can be reached at [email protected]