New Medicines (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Phil Peterson (cello); Zach Hodges (piano); Aaron Sprinkle (keyboards).

Audio Mixer: J.R. McNeely.

Recording information: Compound Studios, Seattle, WA (09/29/2003-11/02/2003); Spectre Studios, Renton, WA (09/29/2003-11/02/2003).

The sophomore effort from Dead Poetic finds this Ohio-based band moving out of the hardcore ghetto, expanding its sound to include a bit more melody, a bit more subtlety, and one more member (guitarist Todd Osborn). That's not to say that there isn't plenty of screaming, naturally, but the screaming is starting to sound a bit like a sop to the kids rather than an integral part of the music-making. By next album, even money says it's going to be the heavyweight melodic rock & roll of songs like "Dream" and the shockingly perfect "Glass in the Trees" that carries the day. "Vanus Empty" offers unusually interesting lyrics ("So vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you"); "Hostages" is a jumpy sort of emocore rave-up, while "Modern Morbid Prophecies" lopes along at midtempo and offers only moderately coherent lyrics. Then there's the hidden track, an overlong instrumental consisting of lots and lots of guitar arpeggios. Pretty good overall, but if their learning curve continues at the present slope their next one will be substantially better. ~ Rick Anderson minimize