On their sophomore effort, sacrifice a bit of aggression for a more balanced sound on , their first album since the departure of guitarist . Right off the bat, it's clear that something is different in the guitar department, with the sound shifting toward a relatively subdued guitar tone compared to the extreme tones found on their debut album, . Fortunately for , they've expanded the sound in other areas, adding more atmospheric flourishes here and there while also polishing up the production, making a tighter and more mature effort than their previous work. All in all, this more balanced approach is one that the Ohio band makes work for them, and it's certainly a direction that should open doors with new fans. ~ Gregory Heaney