According to Phillips, this and self-reliance are Operator's primary mantras, resounding throughout the blasting guitar solos, crashing drums and urgently delivered lyrics that make up the group's debut album, "Soulcrusher" (Atlantic), which is set to drop July 10. The band's sound is reminiscent of Soundgarden at times, but ultimately finds itself "somewhere in-between" genres, Phillips said.

This sense of musical purgatory is no surprise when one traces Phillips' own musical path. Nursed by heavy rock bands like Pantera and Guns 'N' Roses in his youth, Phillips then spent the late '90s in a ska/punk band and played as lead guitarist for grunge group Puddle of Mudd from 2001 until 2005 when he signed onto Operator and when Atlantic Records picked the band up.

Otherwise infused with elements of Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others, Phillips describes Operator's songs as "influenced by classic greats with our own modern twist," concerned with conveying "a little bit ofthe danger" of rock 'n' roll, not just delivering a radio single.

Phillips dubbed Operator a band with integrity and consistency, down to their aesthetics and image. "Presentation is incredibly important; I wish it wasn't" Philips laments, saying instead that he wishes it could be all about the music. But in this era of MySpace and the Internet, the guitarist states a band has to have the whole package.

The band — Phillips, D.P. (drums), Rikki Thomas (guitar), Wade Carpenter (bass) and frontman Johnny Strong (vocals, guitar) — has chosen to complete its package on its own terms.

According to Phillips, Operator is working on videos for each of their singles as they release, which will incrementally chapter an eventual, cohesive movie. The first installment, the video for the album's title track — inspired by a dispute between band members and a record producer — is on the Internet now (www.myspace.com/operatormusic). It introduces the character "Soulcrusher," who Phillips revealed to be Strong's alter-ego. The overarching message of the movie once it reaches completion? "Soulcrusher doesn't give a f*** about you."

While members of the band are unwavering in their messages, attitudes and appearance, Phillips asserted the band is less so when it comes to their fan base.

"I don't know that we're too specific on who we're trying to reach," he said. "We're not trying to single anybody out ` I hope we can connect with everybody."

Connections will be tested Wednesday at Club 101 in El Paso, when Operator opens for Buckcherry. Phillips assured that Operator's live shows offer "a whole other layer of chaos and entertainment.

"It's going to be a long ride, a good ride," he said. "Get on board early."