Wow, can you believe that it’s been fifteen years since Filter’s mega-hit “Hey Man, Nice Shot” took over the radio waves and won the hearts of millions all over the world? I know that it may be hard to imagine, but crazy enough, it’s true. After four previous releases (some successful and some not), Filter are back with an energy, fury and vengeance like we haven’t heard in a very long time. Filter’s fifth studio album titled The Trouble With Angels is an intense, creative journey of a distorted mind that you might not want to miss.

The Trouble With Angels‘ first four tracks really set the table for the dark destruction that awaits your central nervous system. “The Inevitable Relapse” opens with thundering low end, slamming guitar chops, and brainchild Richard Patrick’s patented high end rasp. Pounding drums meet you at the door of devastation as Patrick and company hammer you with violent rampaging riffs. “Drug Boy” features menacing down-tuned guitars, industrialized noises and absolutely huge grooves. The deep and open choruses become a real focal point due to the fact that both the verse and bridge sections are so ear pounding. “Absentee Father” comes out pulverizing with blasting drums and monolithic super aggressive axe work. The choruses just explode as Patrick expands his range, truly allowing the song to breath. “No Love” is a pouncing brute from start to finish. Like a cornered rhino ready to destroy everything in its path, “No Love” is a track that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. The pulsating tribal drums give way to scolding riffs and beautifully rich, textured sounds. The song’s airy guitars, hefty bottom end and catchy vocals make for an absolutely fantastic track.

It seems that many Filter fans lost interest in the band over the years, mostly due to tracks like “Take A Picture” and “Where Do We Go From Here” (among others). They felt like Filter had lost their edge, bending to corporate goons and just making music for the almighty dollar. If you are among those fans, I’m here to ease your mind. With the ten tracks on The Trouble With Angels, only two of them are slow(er) songs. Yes, that’s right- just two. And honestly, both are pretty freakin’ good. “No Re-Entry” spotlights this Deftones style verse that features floaty electronics, soft guitars and spell binding drums. Big guitars and giant walls of emotion totally drench the choruses. “Fades Like A Photograph (Dead Angel)” is definitely the more commercial of the two, but that doesn’t make it any less appealing. Combining drudging bass lines, rich acoustics, and mesmerizing electronics, this song has enormous radio hit written all over it. Think of it as a mixture of One Republic, Primitive Radio Gods and Filter all wrapped into one. It’s a great track to listen to as you kick back, exhale and totally chill out.

I found tracks like “Catch A Falling Knife” and “The Trouble With Angels” to be two real highlights on the album. “Catch A Falling Knife” tramples you with pillaging riffs and plain abusive drumming. The verses capture that “Hey Man, Nice Shot” vibe with running bass lines, disjointed guitar licks and super eerie vocals. The Trouble With Angels‘ title track is one that just might raise an eyebrow or two. Featuring heaping helpings of electronic drums, noises and six string madness, this colossus is lyrically bathed in religious overtones.

The Trouble With Angels can best be described as a combination of the hammering juggernauts Short Bus and The Amalgamut wrapped in the catchiness of Title Of Record. Some people say that it’s nearly impossible for a band to rewrite history after experiencing huge success and then fading. But with this album, Filter haven’t rewritten history; they have grabbed it by the neck and are choking the very life out of it. Fans rejoice, because a new era of Filter is upon us.

4.5/5