There's nothing cute and cuddly about a wolverine, not even a little one. In the very fabric of our normal everyday lives (television and film, really) we generally see these creatures as one of the more violent species to ever grace the animal kingdom.

If we happen to stumble across a comic book, walk into a film screening or for some odd reason randomly click on a link that directs us to some Hugh Jackman Web site, then we might know of that other wolverine: the cigar-smoking, hot-headed, adamantium-infused mofo.

In laymen's terms, if you just so happen to come across a wolverine, then it's in your best interest to close our eyes and silently shout: SOS – Save Our Souls.

For the most part, rock has been swarmed by a pack of wolves in the past few years: either by a parade of them (Wolf Parade), a pair of eyes (Wolf Eyes) the mother of them all (Wolfmother) or, bizarrely enough, those that come from the sea (Sea Wolf).

When you think about it, though, the higher echelon rank would have to go to the wolverine versus the wolf, based primarily on the IT factor. Bands willing to take the mantel of wolverine and, in a sense, have their music correlate to the beast, however, are slim to none.

Luckily one L.A. act, Little Wolverines, is proud to take on the task. While they may be “little,” they're more than willing to SOS with their frenzied attack of rock/punk/new wave. It should be noted, though, that the band has proven to make everyone in the club D.Y.A.O (Dance your ass off), as boasted on one of the group's many T-shirts.

Though quite young in the big, wild world of rock music, the band –Christopher Jarecki (vocals), Kris Byerly (drums), Steve Lawing (guitars), Curtis Mead (bass) and Ben Rojas (guitar) – has built a loyal following brought together by their DIY attitude.

The group has no official Web site as of yet, all online search results lead directly to – you guessed it – MySpace. Tracks from their new self-titled EP can currently be found on their profile.

Emotive to the core, flirting on the brink of being way too emo, Little Wolverines lash out with a triple-shot burst of punk poppiness. Bleeding guitars are suspended over layers of high-wire riffs.

Lyrics that declare: “I don't want to live forever but I don't want to be ignored” (“Something More”) may sound redundant, but are sung with such vigor, they make for a song worthy to add to any pop-punk fan's profile.

A summer stint on this year's Vans Warped Tour will gain even more exposure for the quintet. The band will undoubtedly display its knack for rhythmic muscle (“One Shot”) and dance supremacy (“Right Back Down”).

Quite simply, the band shows promise.

Little Wolverines' self-titled EP is currently available on iTunes and the band's Web site. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/littlewolverines.