THE FLOOD INSIDE

I would like to preface my review by saying that I am not an expert reviewer, but rather I know what I like and what I think is good music. I usually won't review something unless I can listen to it from start to finish and be thoroughly entertained.

I am only recently acquainted with this group, but I have all their albums. Amidst all the post rock/math rock groups this group seems to stand out to me; perhaps is the emphasis on the rock aspect of the music that grabs me. Honestly, there's a lot of the post rock groups that just start to sound kind of the same to me although there a handful or two that I really enjoy. It's hard for me to explain why I like this group more than a lot of other groups in the same genre(s). The music has a flow to me and never feels stiff or ponderous. Now onto the new album...

The Flood Inside finds the group continuing in the vein of the self-titled album from 2011 with a collection moderate length songs and one 11 minute plus song that has the definite post rock/math rock feel to it while being more rock driven and less ambient than many post rock/math rock bands. The group keeps their signature sound while adding more vocals to the music than previously. Four of the eight tracks on the album feature fairly significant vocal presences; while the vocals may not be outstanding I think the vocals are good and fit the music well. And THANK THE BIG BANG that they did not add screamy type vocals that some post rock/math rock groups like to do. They continue to keep a good balance between simple, yet solid riffs and spacey jams that don't quite wander off into the realm of ambient pieces.

From a personal perspective I would give this album 5 stars, because I enjoy it from start to finish every time I listen to it and to me that makes for an outstanding album. But for the sake of trying to be objective I will give it 4 stars because overall it could be said that they have backed off the instrumental intensity of the previous albums and they haven't done much to expand upon their sound. Still I think they have gone the distance on this album and this is another great album for 2013.