22nd Century Lifestyle: Episode Rustandthesuperheroes Sexdrugsandsoutherncityrock

This album will forever be dampened by the fact that the band's lead singer, Rust Epique, died from a heart attack weeks prior to its release. It's a record that mixes a pinch of nu-metal flavoring with radio-friendly rock in the vein of Crazy Town or Limp Bizkit on the aggressive "War." It also contains the ebbs and flows of most Bizkit numbers. For the most part, though, the album has a certain sense of theatrical angst working for it, including on the slightly heavy "Assscending." The melodic and moody Cure-like alternative guitars on "22nd Century Lifestyle" are a highlight, despite the song's rather inane lyrical content. The album takes an acoustic departure on "Staay Alive," which brings to mind the Goo Goo Dolls. Even more refined is the winding "Won + X," making it perhaps the album's highlight with its acoustic roots foundation. Considering the circumstances around the album, perhaps the eeriest and most haunting moment comes during "Know More Words," as Epique sings, "I want to go away and die." Another fleeting yet flawless number is the grunge hue on "Faded Love," resembling Nirvana and Alice in Chains.