The Flood [Deluxe Edition]

Of Mice & Men's sophomore outing treads common waters (a whole lot of screaming, punishing breakdowns, and staccato guitar riffs), but the California-based metalcore quintet's level of intensity, led in part by the expert crooning of clean man (Shayley Bourget) and scream man (former Attack Attack! frontman Austin Carlile), helps keeps The Flood from disappearing into the vast post-hardcore/emo/screamo abyss. Bolstered by a quartet of blistering anthems ("O.C. Loko," "Still Ydg'n," the surprisingly accessible "Purified," and the straightforward nu-metal assault of "Ohioisonfire"), The Flood, despite all of its familiar trappings, manages to breathe (as in forcibly inflate) some new life into the genre. ~ James Christopher Monger