Metalcore with melodic elements that soften up the proceedings, so others besides angry, tattooed, shirtless gentleman can relate to it. This description can be tied to countless rock groups circa the early 21st century, such as Denver's
Drop Dead, Gorgeous, who follow this sonic approach closely on their sophomore full-length, 2009's
The Hot N' Heavy. As evidenced by the album opening "Killing a Classic," the lead-off single, "Two Birds, One Stone," and the craftily titled "The Internet Killed the Video Star" (for you young people out there, it's a take-off on
the Buggles' 1979 new wave classic, "Video Killed the Radio Star"),
Drop Dead, Gorgeous sounds identical to all the other bands mining similar sonic terrain -- with not much separating them from the rest of the pack. [A second 12-track version was also released.] ~ Greg Prato