With two gold albums under their belt Mudvayne have understandably come to the point in their career where their label wants them to deliver an album that breaks the platinum plateau. Unfortunately, that internal pressure seems to have been a major motivator for this, their third major label effort, "Lost & Found".

An album written around living through a less then favorable childhood, "Lost & Found" does see elements of the primal intensity that powered "L.D. 50" and the overtly prog-minded complexity that governed "The End Of All Things To Come", but they are just that - traces. For the most part, "Lost & Found" is comprised of watered-down balladry interspersed with moments of distinct Mudvayne edge.

But while the technical elements and moderately complex instrumental acrobatics are generally present - especially through the always lively and impressive bass playing of Ryan Martine. The songs have a rather muddled structuring that causes them to drone on and come off as desperate grasps at creativity. There are still moments of brutal density present that should keep most diehard fans happy. In fact, tracks like "Just" and "Determined" could have easily fit in on the bands earlier efforts.

But by the time the detached child-like chants of 'eenie meenie miney moe' surface in the 8 minute long "Choices", one can't help but feel that much of this album has been forced out and second-guessed, lacking the heart necessary to carry it through. For a band whose members would often adopt the look of "A Clockwork Orange", it's sad to see just how much they've actually conformed from their previously ultra-violent ways. Not entirely a bad album, but one that certainly feels rushed, with the band still lost and unsure about themselves.