Few in today's metal scene are as dynamic and captivating as Birmingham, Alabama's very own Haste, a band that have intuitively eluded direct classification with their never-ending musical evolution. Haste have effectively returned with quite possibly the best album of their career, as "The Mercury Lift" retains the band's caustic nuances while revealing remarkable emotional depth and a new-found maturity. This time around the band have also enlisted their peers in metal and emocore, as Lamb Of God's D. Randall Blythe and Codeseven's Jeff Jenkins lend their vocal talents to the mix.

The dual vocal impact of Kelly Reaves and Chris Mosley has undergone a magnificent transformation, as their melodic singing has been enhanced greatly, striking with soft delicacy rather than the nasal grating present on "When Reason Sleeps". The thick metalcore screams have also been given more substance and feel all the more intimidating as a result. It is clear the band have learned from past mistakes and refuse to repeat them, as this album sounds meticulous in it's execution. Nothing on here is without reason, and every song offered has been groomed to be a direct representation of just how talented these six men are as a unit. The eleven songs delivered are fluid and emotionally driven with a focused desire that was only alluded to on past efforts. "The Rescued" is a cathartic cataclysm of adrenaline and ambiance, as Jenkins' melodic dissonance cloaks the otherwise straight-forward hardcore song with a dreamy haze akin to the Deftones' "White Pony". The band have also taken some major risks, as they strip their sound of the devastating edge on select cuts and prove they can stay afloat with pure singing quite splendidly, as is the case on the incredible "Houdini Has Lost His Key" and to a lesser extent the infectious "Stutter". For those not as enticed by clean singing and flawless harmonies the band also deliver chunkier emo/metal on the astounding "Force Is Always An Option" and pure aural barbarism with the aid of Lamb Of God's Blythe on "A God Reclaims His Throne". Musically this is an equally stunning effort, as every moment is filled with moody subtleties that thicken the entire proceedings. Suffice to say the band never leave the album at a lull. Whether it be percussive intricacies or disjointed guitar melodies, Haste are continuously trying something new to enhance this musical masterpiece.

It is almost overwhelming at how seamless this group have become at melding their abrasive metallic edge with a delicate melodic bent, all the while painting broad artistic brushstrokes over the entire canvas, providing bewildering atmospheric depth. The most impressive aspect however is just how natural this all seems, and while Haste have most certainly focused on refining their melodic slant, they never once do so at the expense of the gritty metalcore fans have grown to expect. The band have evolved from the tenacious hardcore/punk upstarts that first appeared on "Pursuit In The Face Of Consequence" into a fully functional emo/metal hybrid able to effortlessly balance brutality with innate beauty. This album should serve as the defining moment in the band's career, as it is their most realized effort to date and reveals just what amazing things this group can create when given the chance.