Rage with Awolnation at Cosmo

L.A.'s Awolnation may set bodies in motion like fellow dance floor-filling rockers Foster the People, but they do so with a darker edge and more scars on their wrists.

Against a largely electronic backdrop consisting of zeppelin-sized beats and drubbing bass lines, frontman Aaron Bruno frequently and deliberately strains his voice until it begins to fray at the edges like a rope under too much pressure.

He sings of rage, of losing his pride, of thoughts of suicide on songs that betray such bleak subject matter with plenty of synth-driven, arms-in-the-air moments that turn scab picking into cause for celebration.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.