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REVIEW – 19 years ago I was reading Kerrang magazine and they were praising this band called (HED) PE. They came out at a time when people were fast to label anything nu metal. People who actually took the time to listen to the band’s self titled record would discover a band that was set on turning music on the ass. They followed it up with another solid effort called “ Broke” and if you were shocked they did not break on the self titled, it was a bigger shock that they did not turn the world upside down on that one. Now, we are in 2016 and despite all the changes both in lineup and record, it seems that the band is still putting out solid music. I think some fans were split on “ Evolution” and felt the band was trying too hard to be commercial, but if you followed their career, all the records they have put out always had those moments that you felt the band wanted to get a song on college or modern rock radio. There is nothing wrong with it, but some fans do not realize when a band is trying to get more appeal that it is not always selling out. 2015, saw the lineup change up again. With Jason and Mark leaving the band and Jared being the sole original member. Then again, if a band is to have one remaining member, why not the singer?
With this album the band seems to want to give people a history lesson, as this album sounds like it is the bridge between cd 2 self titled and cd 3 Broke. The opening track “ Live” is the energetic fist pumping throwback that sets the tone for this record. If you listen to this track and are not excited about the rest of this album, you should check your pulse. This album let’s the guitar sound get heavy and crunchier. This cd also further mixes the reggae sounds that past releases touched on as well. The shock to this new album is that the band is hungrier than ever. For a band that have had a 22 year life, are still fighting and hungry. That passion is shown throughout this album. This is quite easily the best album by them since the early 2000’s and should inspire fans who jumped off the bandwagon to jump back on head first. This is a band that is still putting out solid music and this album could be hailed as the second coming for them. The band has woke up, and now they are ready to take music back.
