Agents Of The Sun have already seen many of their dreams become reality, rising up through the independent ranks to perform as a supporting act for TRUSTcompany just a mere few weeks after forming. This exposure brought them interest from DCide Records, and less than four months into their young career these men found themselves with a contract and a demand: record a debut album. This debut, the accessible hard rock mammoth entitled "Aurora", is an album that arrives bearing melodious fruit ripe for the picking; and also provides a surprising escape from the multitude of gloomy aggression factories currently thriving in the rock spectrum.

These musicians are more than efficient at crafting ultra-melodic hard rock, almost to the point that they hardly appear to even concentrate on the task at hand. Ray Dobson finds himself at the helm of this melody-driven vessel, projecting his dynamic pipes in all directions with supreme confidence. His delivery is akin to that of 311's Nick Hexum, conjuring an atmospheric panorama of sound; though he most often resides in a domain of power-pop proportions alongside Hoobastank and Die Trying (an unavoidable comparison on "Face It"). His range is not altogether remarkable, but he seems comfortable in reaching for more expressive tones, switching it up between airy whispers, powerful wails and an unfaltering middle-ground. Unfortunately, the group opt to incorporate elements accustomed to the rapcore boom of the late 90's and this seems to be a hindrance to Dobson's natural abilities, though they never resort to overly generic rhymes. The band do weaken slightly midway through the album, assimilating elements of TRUSTcompany on the mediocre "Make Slow", while offering a vague Saliva impression on "Trap Door". However, a vast majority of the material present is readily discernible from the horde of other like-minded bands, making Agents Of The Sun a solid addition to the hard rock ranks.

The tunes offered forth on "Aurora" are unnaturally fluid, washing over one's ears with surprising ease. It is rare to find an abrasive moment within this record, as even the more aggressive guitars are dulled down to a meager roar and subsequently pushed to the background in favor of Dobson's melodic vocals. Since it seems to be the group's goal to soothe with deliriously catchy hooks this resistance shown towards their heavier tones can be understood, and by leaving a hint of a more aggressive side intact one is given a glimpse at what be in store with future efforts. For a debut effort this is a capable album that does a reasonably good job at introducing these newcomers to the game. Sure they find themselves caught in a formulaic pattern that never quite allows them to reveal an adventurous side, but one can still appreciate the positive vibe they sought to achieve. Amidst a sea of melodious brethren Agents Of The Sun have broken through, and while their debut album is a mixed bag that never quite captures your full attention, they have built a solid foundation from which they can construct a formidable career.