After reviewing this album, I do not know what to say.  I mean, there is a lot to say about it, both good and bad. Some songs are awesome and take me back to their debut album Sinner, and some just plain suck.  I like hard rock, but only when it is good.  I used to see many of the acts in the mid 1980s that played at CBGBs in New York City, and also make the trek to L'Amours in Brooklyn to see more.  I remember a time when Van Halen was considered "posers" (they were not hard enough to be true hard rockers and dare say heavy metal musicians). Although Drowning pool does not hold itself up to being heavy metal, they are touted as a "hard rock band from Texas."

So, where am I going with all this?  Well, the initial track on the album starts out with a heavy hitting "speed metal" type song almost ska in a sense with a lot of screamin' and yellin'.  This is okay sometimes, but it just did not work here.  At least put it in some kind of context.  It was just a lot of noise - maybe it is because I am getting older, but I just did not hear any real talent from the band or cohesiveness. There was some energy, and it is probably makes for a good set in concert, but loses something on the CD.  The first few songs just did not do it for me -- a lot of the same old thing as performed by everyone these days who calls themselves a rock band.

Then we get to the middle of the album and whala -- a shining light of musical talent comes breaking through.  Yes, the songs become a little lighter, but the lyrics are clearer and worth listening too. The instruments are now also played instead of just hit and strummed.  It then has become a pleasure to listen to.  It could have been my mood today, wanting something on the lighter side, but some of those songs just hit the right spot.  I know that on some days I grab for my old Raven, Sabbath ad Accept CDs, but not today.  This is a CD that you have to listen to yourself to get a full idea of if you like it or not because this review by this reviewer today is not conclusive by any terms.  I like it and I don't, but what is good is really good and that is sometimes enough to just go out and buy the CD - or just to listen to their version of Billy Idol's Rebel Yell.