Artist: Comeback Kid Album: Wake the Dead Label: Victory Records Rating: 7 out of 10

Sometimes, nothing but a little no-frills hardcore punk will do. If that's true for you, Comeback Kid's Wake the Dead will no doubt bring back fond memories of furious circle pits in Moose Lodge halls and sweaty sing-alongs in church basements. Originally founded in 2002 as a side project for Andrew Neufeld of metallic hardcore band Figure Four, Comeback Kid has quickly grown into a beast all its own. And, with their sophomore full-length recently released on major independent Victory Records, the group has truly come into its own. For a neat summary of Comeback Kid's sound, look no further than album-opener "False Idols Fall." All pounding double-time drums, fierce gang vocals, and harmonized, punky guitars, this track alone could destroy 10 emo-come-latelys in a single swipe. The same goes for the throttling "Our Distance," which features a catchier hook and a nice breakdown. And unlike many of their one-note peers, Comeback Kid is able to deviate from this template and lose none of the impact. "Falling Apart" is a brutal, metal-tinged rocker reminiscent of current scene figureheads Hatebreed, while Scott Wade's raw, strangled vocals on "Partners in Crime" immediately call to mind soon-to-be-departed veterans Snapcase. In fact, there's something for just fans of just about every sub-genre here, including straight-up punk rock. Accordingly, with the right label push, "Losing Patience" could be a killer underground single. Its combination of muted and picked guitars and strong chorus hook show Comeback Kid are more musically-sophisticated than they appear on the surface, which bodes well for future records. Unfortunately, "Patience" also makes a couple weaker tracks ("My Other Side," "Bright Lights Keep Shining") seem like throwaways in comparison. The lesson? Used right, melody only enhances the heaviness, and it definitely will make for better mic-in-the-crowd sing-alongs on the road. For now, Comeback Kid are destined to have plenty of those. See you at the show. - Todd Thatcher