Liquid Logic's album hits with a bitter sweet mix of emo, pop and hard rock. The group streams out easily digestible songs with a modern edge and a radio rock sensibility that provides for a relaxing listen with a punch. Crisp distortion and swooping riffs highlight the tight basslines, while melodic vocals that feature a slight snarl smoothly croon over top of the music like a layer of ice on a frozen lake. The groups music can bring to mind bands such as Nickelback, yet the aggression level is much lower and is replaced with elaborate breakdowns and vast sound scapes.

The vocal performance captured on this album is slick and slides right over top of the music with strong conviction and keen attention to harmony. Slightly emo, and yet a shade traditional hard rock, the verbal aspect of this album can come off sounding almost like a pacified poppy version of Staind's Aaron Lewis. Guitars sweep through a variety of sounds and textures that range from acoustic to crunchy distortion and placid effects. Thoughtful chords are strummed out with a heavy hearted feel and conservative tuning that is contrasted with buzzing distorted riffs that and long winded squealing high notes. Bass is tuned a bit lower and has some growl to it as compact basslines are hit with authority and knot themselves tightly around the percussion with soft timing. Drums ricochet with a warm tuning and brisk hits that are rounded out with some tribal percussion and a resilient snare. Solid tom rolls are set firmly in place and ample fills are put to work during fills to lay down an eager percussive experience.

Overall the band has a wealth of talent and capitalize on it in bursts, as they veer off into epic breakdowns and experiment with acoustic instrumentals flush with ethnic percussion. The material included is polished and serves its purpose well, but can become a bit monotonous with each song sticking a bit close to the same formula. As such the dynamic element of the album is slowly depleted by this and the songs begin to blur into each other. There are few tracks where the band gets a bit reckless and really impress, but it can be hampered by another downfall in the form the lyrical content feeling a bit overblown and not having the ability to strike a deep chord with the listener. Through it all though the group provides a handful of catchy songs and some soothing melody with enough bite to it to entertain fans of harder styled music, but it may just be a bit too sugary for listeners who expect a cathartic release. Liquid Logic's full length may not be the most eclectic bunch of songs or the most fiery either, but they slowly become infectious with their glossy coating, which will no doubt hook into fans of music with a light heart and solid musicianmanship, although those seeking out something with an extreme range of emotions might want to look elsewhere.
(3.5 / 5)