Strife are one of the select few who helped to bring the metalcore/hardcore genre to the metal audience with their 1997 underground classic, "In This Defiance", an effort which featured guest appearances from members of the Deftones, Fear Factory and Sepultura. But it was not in the cards for them to fully breakthrough as they soon broke up shortly after its release, only to recently reform and record this, their much anticipated and unexpected follow-up effort, "Angermeans". Once again the band eschew metal and hardcore in a relentless fashion, but for the most part "Angermeans" finds the band returning to their roots, with a decidedly stronger hardcore influence permeating the disc as opposed to the cutting edge metalcore that comprised their last outing, making this album sound more along the lines of older Earth Crisis mixed with perhaps recent Downset., sans the rap styled vocals.

Much more gritty and raw, band frontman Rick Rodney's delivery is a bit less aggravated this time out, even slowing down to unveil a few melodic Helmet reminiscent chants and sullen croons, though the bulk of his contributions are still comprised of vicious throat tearing screams and snarling verbal barrages. Guitar wise, the effort is also a bit restrained in contrast to their last outing, pulling out more traditional styled riffery that sounds perhaps a bit more evil, inspired by the bands of old rather than the axe men leading today's modern metal movement. The bass playing however is diligent and lightly thickens the mix with a tangible lowend growl, while the percussion is punchy and thrashes through abusive hardcore styled progressions and thunderous slow paced thuds, complete with the occasional double kick styled beat down.

Indeed "Angermeans" is somewhat of a departure for Strife as it sounds a lot more self indulgent and experimental than their past work. Incorporating everything from piano interludes and electronic styled musicianship to verbal melodies and the ethnic percussion of Cypress Hill's Bobo, the group sound less intent on ferociously spreading a message as they do shredding out more dynamically paced songs, a direction no doubt influenced by their choice to distance themselves from the straightedge lifestyle. As a result, the music is darker and retains a bit more depth, twisting through a few unexpected part changes that widely broaden the bands sound and hint at where they will be heading in the future. That said, the groups time spent apart is a bit noticeable on this outing as it does seem as though they're still getting reacquainted with each other and trying to include a few too many ideas into the mix all at once. The production of the outing is also quite rough and treble heavy, pretty much washing out any chance of retaining the grating chunky metallic sound the band have managed to accomplish in the studio in the past. As such, what we are presented with here is an album that is full of ideas from a band that is reinvigorated and hungry, yet perhaps not fully back in the peak form which they left in. A mixed offering, but its nothing some touring together won't fix and above all its great to see them back in the game.