Sharing ties to the likes of The Deadlights and Static-X, Depswa originally appeared to be on the fast track to heavy music success, but it wasn't until they began to fully rise to fruition that Geffen snatched them up. After a lengthy period in the studio the band have returned, yet oddly vacant are the once tribal inclinations, instead replaced with a more adept melodic bent that clearly caters to not only an accessible mainstream sound, but also a new musical avenue that Depswa seem to excel at. "Two Angels And A Dream" is the full-length debut for the group, and an album that mines melodic soil in search of a style that has greater risks yet provides greater opportunities for the group as opposed to their grittier alt. metal efforts of the past.

This newly updated version of Depswa have stripped themselves of the overly aggressive crunch that their previous recordings have shown, instead seeking out a more dynamic studio sound that captures the burgeoning musical and vocal talents that they have gathered in the past few years. What is readily obvious is just how effective Depswa now are at weaving tapestries of sonic proportions. As such songs like the infectious "Let It Go" and the soaring melodies of "From The Inside" ensnare the listener in their web of alternative aggression. Jeremy Penick's slight nasal wail is instantly recognizable and it's impressive at how quickly he has grown as a frontman. "Two Angels And A Dream" does boast some peculiar guest appearances, as it appears that Depswa have bucked the trend of incorporating close friends and instead have selected artists that could compliment the vision they wish to create. In what seems to be the most unusual pairing, "This Time" finds backing vocals from Brad Kane, a man who has lent his talents to a film in Disney's "Aladdin" franchise, and yet he melds uncannily well with Penick. Yes keyboardist Igor Khoroshev also assists on the atmospheric dreamscape of "Prom Song", making this one of the most melodically intriguing cuts on the album. The effort closes with the acoustic "Traveler's Song", a courageous and quirky failure that features Sierra Swan (who has most recently worked with Cold) on backing vocals, and while the song itself never leaves the ground. the pairing does show potential for future collaborations.

This is an album full of surprises and letdowns. Fans that have followed the group for quite some time may be disappointed in how generic this record is, but when a band moves in such a direction there is always residual resentment. What one is missing is that despite how lackluster many of these songs appear on the surface, Depswa make them worth listening to, injecting enthusiasm and emotion into otherwise bland offerings. Few bands have the ability to adapt their style in such a manner and still produce an album that doesn't completely ruin their previous image, yet these men have cultivated one rife with moderately interesting songs and placed an aura of importance to them which is outstanding to say the very least. Unfortunately the record does spiral downwards near the end as the group appear to lose some steam, yet in their wake they have left several solid tracks that give one hope for future efforts. As it stands Depswa have avoided the trend that those such as Trapt have fallen victim to, releasing a major label debut that doesn't inherently disregard past fans while also opening up new doors for their future.