Stop-start, rhythmically varied, rampaging yet somewhat hollow in the drum hits -- if nothing else, have the sound of so much aggressive rock over the past two decades down that it's hard to fault them for worshipping so openly at the altar of any number of Anglo-American heroes. (As a result, by letting a number of their lyrics remain in German they are able to make themselves a little more distinctive.) is a classic example of a band going "Wait, didn't emo used to mean something a little different once?," and if it had appeared on in the mid-'90s or not much later, nobody would have batted an eye. (If anything, the more electronic tinge on songs like almost brings to mind the late great .) Meanwhile the appearance of trumpet at points, as on adds both a bit of mournfulness and sly brassy kick to the proceedings. Beyond that, though, feel less like they're finding their own sound and more like they're reveling in their ability to channel various approaches from elsewhere -- no sin, but neither is it something that will reward more than a casual listen. ~ Ned Raggett