Simultaneously tapping into something more elemental lyrically whilst throwing one curve ball after another genre-wise - grungy Chengdu alt-rockers Riot in School deftly mixes roaring rock with brooding alternative pop - evolving into bold and ferocious as they blend in ambient textures, hip-hop verses, jazz breakdowns, and other such deviations. It comes at you like a freight train - so that even when their wild stylistic swings don’t completely hit their mark, you can’t help but love the audacity. I was lucky enough to catch the band a couple of years back - and they’re the real deal - a sweaty mess of emotions and rip-roaring riffs that demand your attention. The band is in the midst of their nationwide tour in support of their sophomore LP - Punk Rock Blasphemy - with support from the ever-busy post-hardcore trio Lysoma.