's first phase of existence had long been plagued by bad luck amid many musical triumphs, and the band's incipient reunion in 2000 was undercut by the tragic early death of due to cancer some years later. But the eventual appearance of in 2007, drawing partially on some of her last tracks but mostly consisting of newer ones done by the core of brothers and plus former member , was well worth the wait. A vibrant, fierce collection of songs played with all the intense, live-wire energy one could want from , looks coolly around at the modern -derived musical landscape and blasts it into the next room. Bookended by two versions of the appropriately chilly though still sprightly the album shifts easily between -derived tension and mean-as-hell arrangements. The rhythm section of shines on songs like a kind of war tribute from hell, and the beyond- 's fierce, angry singing on such pieces as and the nervous, -tinged sprawl of matches the feeling of the album to a T, while 's ear for sudden uplift amid the tense energy, especially notable on caps things perfectly. Meanwhile, 's two vocal leads -- on the big, open arrangement of and the deft, coolly sweet -- serve as a fine final contribution from a talent sadly cut off too soon. is dedicated to her memory, and it's a worthy way to be remembered. ~ Ned Raggett