Implant have went through a few lineup changes since their last outing, 1999's "Big Brother"; but thankfully it seems that their sound is better as a result, with the music being stepped up a proverbial notch now that the new blood is in place. Sounding much more dynamic and focused, the group still draw similarities to System Of A Down, yet they also have a wealth of careening song structures that bring to mind something along the lines of Dog Fashion Disco, without the disturbing verbal imagery and Mr. Bungle heroics, instead opting to go the more sinister Distubred styled route.

Band frontman Ben-O's most direct comparison is easily System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian, as they both share the same type of detached pitch, yet the two also differ substantially as Ben-O tends to use a more rhythmic delivery that is brooding and drawn out, only occasionally exploding into reckless throaty screams that surprisingly are fairly song structure oriented. Guitar wise, the material is moderately paced, connecting with a continual wave of sound that interlocks tightly with the bass and vocals to create a shove of distortion that is more ominous than it is brutal or unrelenting. Meanwhile, the bass playing is suitably detuned, adding an extra rumble to the fold which rarely deviates from the songs firmly plotted courses and smooth transitions. Band drummer Seth's contributions are a bit more animated than their stringed counterparts however, preferring to instead use a slightly off timed array of loose hits, complete with ample high hat and cymbal work to kick the songs into shape and ensure a calculated and consistent pace.

The groups music is now definitely a lot darker than before and the songs show a wealth of maturity in contrast, suggesting that this quartet's music is becoming all the more of a potent and compact assault. Interestingly enough, the song writing is even a bit maniacal in a sense, yet not in a dangerous way, instead sounding depraved and at times unsettling, keeping the listener constantly at edge. The most notable factor in creating this atmosphere is ultimately Ben's vocals, which can bring to mind something along the lines of a straight jacket suited schizophrenic madman thrashing around as he shifts personalities in his padded cell, jumping from fits of rage to emotional breakdowns in a timely fashion. Unfortunately though, the 4 tracks present here are all quite similar to each other and though the ideas and structures are intriguing, it is a bit hard to tell which is which after a few listens. Perhaps this is due to their often tepid nature, as they rarely capitalize upon their contrasting part changes in a dynamic fashion, instead shifting from aggressive to introspective a little too calmly. If they can manage to accentuate such switches in direction and perhaps inject a bit more color, the songs would easily benefit and become quite astonishing works. But sadly, in their current form it all feels a bit too well regulated. Despite such cons, the band do already have at least have one essential key to success, it being identity. This, along with a few other positive traits, allows them to stand out quite a bit from any of the usual suspects trying their hand at the modern metal race and as such, with a bit more research, Implant will most likely find themselves enhancing the CD collections of many whom are sickened with the corporate copycat glut.