Sacramento, California's Die Trying are a relatively young face on the burgeoning rock scene, yet though they have only been together a short time, they have already aligned themselves alongside heavyweights such as Papa Roach. Their self-titled debut is an album that aspires to be the next alternative tidal-wave, littered with overly ripe hit singles awaiting their chance to shine, yet despite it's lofty goals it never quite finds it's footing, and these men never manage to remove themselves from their mentor's shadow.

There are glimmering moments of promise found here, as "Oxygen's Gone" is a tremendous lead single and "Words That Kill" captivates you with it's driving guitars and Jassen's passionate vocal wails, yet these bright spots are ultimately swallowed by the derivative filler. Many songs feel less like original cuts and more like underdeveloped Papa Roach b-sides, as Die Trying seem to be coasting along without exerting any true effort to hold one's attention. "Conquer The World", a collaboration with Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix, finds the musicians reminiscing about years gone by, yet rather then catch one's ear, the band merely seem desperate to mine credibility from their acquaintance's success. The group squeeze some life into the album with an entertaining twist on "Dirty, Dirty", a lively cut that reinvents The Waitresses' "I Know What Boys Like", but even here Die Trying seem uninspired. In reality this entire album sags under it's predictable formula and solid but all too familiar execution, tingling one's taste buds without ever divulging it's full flavor.

Die Trying are hard rock for the Ritalin generation; spastic bursts of punk-inflected pop perfection never given the necessary time to connect with the listener. Though they lay down the fundamental elements of a stellar pop album, they still never stray far from the Alien Ant Farm meets MxPx shadow they have become enshrouded by. If the band work on tightening their musical direction and focus on nurturing songs that break the 3 minute barrier, they should excel through the pop ranks. As it stands this debut captures a band not quite sure of what they wish to accomplish, and judging by the lackadaisical behavior shown here, one can only wonder if they are trying at all.