So, what if I said that while listening to the new Haste The Day album, Dreamer that thoughts of Pink Floyd and Pearl Jam were running through my mind? More on that later. Haste The Day's latest album is their fourth since signing with Solid State back in 2004, and they have come a long way. Even with a recent lineup change, they have delivered wonderfully.

"68" opens the album with breakneck speed riffs, wicked double bass drumming, and Stephen's wrenching screams followed by a melodic chorus which is Haste The Day all the way. The breakdowns are ever present on the track and throughout the rest of the album. "Mad Men" follows, arguably the best track on the album. The double bass and breakdowns get even better as the chorus sings, "The innocent will rest in the peace they've been given. Paintings will sleep on the floor. Build walls of lonely dreams as beauty fades. I can't take this anymore." And it just keeps on getting better from there. Songs like "Sons of a Fallen Nation" have crazy screams, "Haunting" will leave your neck hurting from head banging, and "Babylon" is about choosing sides in life. The band, as always, delivers a Godly message, such as in "An Adult Tree" where lyrics say, "Breath of a fallen angel, brings death if you breathe it in," while "Invoke Reform" delivers the lesson of not giving up in life.

Now to elaborate on the Pink Floyd and Pearl Jam thought I mentioned earlier. Haste The Day, in my opinion, has taken a rather large step outside of their comfort zone with the songs "Labyrinth" and "Autumn." The former begins with a marching band drum sound as a backdrop to soft spoken words and piano keys. I kept thinking that I was listening to "Dark Side of the Moon" or something. "Autumn" is a re-recording from their 2002 independent release That They May Know. It is a completely acoustic track bearing a sound that brings Eddie Vedder to mind. The hardcore fans may not appreciate the attempt to be more versatile, but I can't stop listening to either of these tracks. The band took a gamble musically and it paid off perfectly.

The other main change on the album are the talents of Stephen Keech, the band's front man and lead vocalist. His vocals are all over the map on this album, and they all sound great. He screams in multiple pitches as always, but also sings with apparent emotion and even has that raspy whisper voice down pat. This vocal versatility was less noticeable on their previous album, Pressure The Hinges. Now, on the flip side: some of the songs may be a little short in length and the guitar riffs - while great - sound similar throughout the album. That's about it, though. There are no fillers, and every track delivers exactly what we have come to expect from Haste The Day and more. Dreamer is definitely worth picking up the day it comes out.

- Review date: 10/12/08, written by Kevin Hoskins