2008
Hard rock, alternative

3½ out of 5

We were pretty sure this band had broken up or was about to. Their last record - the phenomenal Glow, released in 2004 - had left a lasting impression on the East  Bay scene with it's mix of metal crunch and soaring melodies. The band was a staple of local shows during the heydey of the early-2000s crop of alt-metal bands and received appreciable radio play. Then they all but disappeared.

After four years and much uncertainty of the band's status,  To Lose a Name was released to little fanfare. The record had been in the works for roughly two years, and aside from an early version of "In Search of a Ghost" which appeared on a sampler disc in 2005, it seemed on track to become Bay Area's Chinese Democracy. But without much notice, the record suddenly dropped this month, and the buzz quickly caught up to it. To lose a name shot to the top of independent music retailer CDBaby.com's list within the first week of its release.

The new record has everything that fans would expect from Unjust. Meat-and-potatoes riffs still the songs into explosive choruses and singer Paul Mendoza belts out his familiar Mike Patton-inspired vocals to great effect. Keyboardist Thom Tucker provides subtle but effective atmosphere, supporting the melodies but leaving room for Mendoza and guitarist Mikey Marino to cast the hooks (and occasionally tickle the ears with a blazing shred solo).

While essentially a continuation of Glow's direction, there are a few refreshing differences this time around. To Lose a Name is decidedly faster and consistently heavier than its predecessor, without falling back too hard on the nü-metal cliches of the band's pre-Glow catalogue. Opener "The Cloud Collectors" and the aforementioned "In Search of a Ghost" aptly demonstrate the band's knack for fast, driving anthems, while "The Part" which clocks in at just over 10 minutes is a punishing portrait of addiction and burnout ("Drink that 40-ounce into your grave") highlighted by the unexpected but perfectly executed break in the middle for a Pink Floyd-esque interlude before erupting back into a triumphant climax.

While not the sharp right turn in style that the band made with its previous record, To Lose a Name is without a doubt a solid effort from one of the Bay Area's veteran bands, and was definitely worth the wait.

Sounds like: Faith No More, Deftones, Killswitch Engage
Best tracks: In Search of a Ghost, The Part, We Be Robots