Sound: Their blend of metal hooks, hardcore screams and punk energy reached incredible heights on 2003’s Sing the Sorrow (my #1 album of 2003). The follow-up still features Davey Havok’s impressive shifts from soaring wails to guttural growls and the band’s anthemic gang chants and group-sing choruses. This time, though, their usual tone of despair brightens in spots and allows for some surprisingly poppy moments and cleaner production.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Miss Murder“; “Summer Shudder“; “The Killing Lights“; “Affliction”
Medium Rotation track: “The Missing Frame”
Recommended: Decemberunderground can’t boast the non-stop barrage of classics that Sing The Sorrow has, and at times it feels too refined. There are several highlights, though, and this will still be one of the best rock albums of the year.
Grade: A- (Top 20 Albums of 2006 Candidate)

(As posted 6/19/06 on davepowersmusic.com)
Buy CD/Listen to Tracks