DaytonDailyNews.com

BY DON THRASHER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Like many bands, Huntington Beach, Calif., hardcore band (Hed) p.e. flirted with major-label life, releasing albums for Jive and Koch. However, a deal with indie label Suburban Noize Records in 2006 has been a much better fit for the spunky act that mixes punk, metal, rap, R&B and more into an unparalleled sonic assault.

"It's a great label," lead singer Jared Gomes said. "It's one of the rare instances where a record label can boast of having its own scene and following that's there waiting for the artists they're going to sign. Most record labels are nameless, faceless entities, where Suburban Noize has its own image and own stance amongst the youth because you know they're doing some sort of quality control over there.

"And, come on, there's the corporate structure that just constantly wants to turn music into a commodity. They constantly want to sign a new baby band or act like there's some new trend so they can sell a billion more albums. We all know they're using little schemes to sell music and most of the kids aren't as dumb as the corporations think they are."

(Hed) p.e., which performs at The Foundry Sunday, July 6, has been on a creative roll since linking up with the new label. The group's last studio album, "Insomnia," was released in June 2007, and the next studio effort, "New World Orphans," is set to drop in the fall.

In the meantime (Hed) p.e. has a new DVD-CD set, "The DIY Guys," hitting record stores July 8. The "punk rockumentary" features live performances interspersed with offstage footage, a bit of political commentary and a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor.

"The DVD is part reality show, and there's a whole live show that's caught there," Gomes said. "It kind of follows me around on some paternity suit I had last year. Our DJ is like a dedicated tagger, so it kind of follows him around with his scuffles with authority figures and whatever. It's a little bit more than your average cookie-cutter band DVD where you already know what you're getting. I'm really excited about it because it's so original and creative."

More info: www.hedperocks.com.

CONTACT contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.