One reunion album by was almost too good to be true for hardcore fans, but the quartet kept on going after to produce another fine disc in the form of . Working again with producer/longtime fan , the quartet shows that the snarling, tense energy evident from their return hasn't dissipated -- if anything, is an even more focused and fierce machine this time around. The swirling synth-murmur start to leads into a rampaging, brawling arrangement, 's immediately recognizable vocals as compelling as 's guitars or the steady rhythm blast of and . With that as a great calling card for the quartet, continues from there in just as excellent a fashion. If on the one hand it may seem like the band still explores familiar territory -- 's mantra-like choruses, a thick, rich sound overall from the whole band -- in turn it's even more their own unique sound in a time of revivalism, a clear continuation from where they started without simply rehashing. An ear for snippets of samples and almost left-field elements -- the gasping gurgle vocal break on the deep tolling bells helping start the wonderful percussion-on-top-of-percussion overload on the instrumental the almost soothing descending keyboard melody on -- means that one can never quite predict what's next on the album, which still never loses the band's core sonic approach. Meanwhile, such moments as the inspiring call-and-response chorus on -- a loud rush balanced against the quieter but no less driving verses -- and the extended instrumental introduction to with piano taking a prominent role, are just great moments, full stop. ~ Ned Raggett