Since their late-90s inception, Death By Stereo has been a fierce and phenomenal part of the hardcore and underground metal scene churning out tunes that have serious substance, re-playability and style. At the absolute peak of their career (in this guy's opinion) they released Death For Life, a fantastic album that combined the thickest, crunchiest production with the most brutally catchy songs the band had ever created.

Four years later, at an interval twice as long as it has ever taken them to come out with an album, the band released Death is My Only Friend a collection of songs that leave the hardcore DBS fan within wanting something more. Although the CD is listenable and there are good harmonies, melodies, riffs, choruses and lyrics it lacks the undeniable punch and always noticeable style that DBS had been honing so, so well up until now. As I write this I actually have a song from the new album stuck in my head, so please keep in mind that while it might be a disappointment that doesn't mean it is necessarily bad. It just doesn't live up to the expectations that Death By Stereo has created for their fans. Such is the nature of subjectivity.

The album doesn't have quite the song-flow definition of previous albums in that there are two that have been recycled from past albums and a last song that doesn't feel epic and conclusive enough to label it a true DBS closer. One of the recycled songs is a fourth and inferior version of the " Holocaust" series. "Hippie Holocaust" and "Emo Holocaust" are great and the apex of this uber-hardcore wonderment is the "Emo Holocaust" version from their live album with the dueling guitars. So here, a fourth version has finally made it to a proper album (though it is a secret track)...and it feels completely extraneous and unimpressive compared to its past brethren. DBS also felt it necessary to include a ballad-esque treatment to their Death For Life song "Forever and a Day". It sounds prettier, albeit in a synthetic way, but it doesn't have the same emotional build up of the original. I wish I could at least say the same when I compare this album to the previous ones but the production values here seem to have gone down a couple of notches as well. Even their first record sounds more sonically even than this one.

This is definitely more pop than any of their other albums with more "agreeable" melodies and smoother choruses, some of which are hard-hitting, most of which are sing-able and a few of which are a great combination of the two. No change in Death By Stereo's sound could ever hold back the awesomeness of guitarist Dan Palmer's playing or Efrem Shulz' great voice which is apparent through most of the record. There are plenty of times where a specific riff or vocal melody sticks, but unfortunately most are muddled by the band's stylistic move in the wrong direction. The lyrics also seem to have taken an unwelcome turn; some are good, some are too easy and obvious, but very few of them are memorable.

The formula was so perfect and it's unfortunate to see so much potential for a killer fifth full-length being spent on new avenues that don't pan out. What's that term? Oh yeah: If ain't broke, don't fix it. Still, this is the type of album that usually comes out right before the one that brings the band back to their roots. I have, and will always have hope for DBS to put out good music and I am looking forward to the next album, whenever it may come.

6.5 out of 10

RIYL Avenged Sevenfold, Killswitch Engage, Rise Against, Atreyu