SUMMER ALBUM ROUNDUP : *** 7 YEAR BITCH, “Viva Zapata�; <i> Atlantic/CZ</i>

On its second album, this Seattle quartet makes it pretty clear where it’s coming from with songs like “Dead Men Don’t Rape.�

The band powers out a new slew of terroristic lyrics over its own blend of fat, confident power chords. Singer Selene Vigil seethes on lines like “Can I bounce a rock off your head? / Can I pronounce you dead?� in a cold, kick-you-when-you’re-down tone, then saunters along the emotional edge of Patti Smith-inspired mania. She expels lyrics in ornery packs, occasionally letting loose roars that would send Pantera running for cover.

Low-fi tunes walk by cool and slow, only picking up speed for an occasional punk-rock number. Deep bass lines come off as enigmatic, then as menacing, making the tunes stick in the subconscious, while a jagged, buzzing guitar lends a rough edge.

The best moment on this album comes in the song “M.I.A.,� its title referring to Mia Zapata of the band the Gits, who was raped and murdered last year. Vigil sings, “Does society have justice for you? / Well if not, then I do.�

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).