For their sophomore album,
Survival Story,
Flobots turned up their amps to show off their range and their
Rage Against the Machine and
Tool influences, which made them sound more like
Linkin Park or
P.O.D. With metal infused in their hip-hop and greater symphonic dissonance in their music, courtesy of violist
Mackenzie Roberts and trumpet player Joe Ferrone, MCs Jonny 5 (no relation to
Marilyn Manson’s guitarist) and Brer Rabbit add depth to their flow, as they continually push positivity and political awareness. "Defend Atlantis" predicts the upcoming apocalypse due to a declining economy and environment, while
Rise Against's
Tim McIlrath passionately exclaims "We'd rather make our children martyrs than murderers" in the antiwar anthem "White Flag Warrior." ~ Jason Lymangrover