Singer/guitarist Ryan Conner isn't a bad bellower, but he's a fairly generic one; there's not much difference between his death voice and those of many other fire-breathers. Likewise, lyrics such as "My whole existence revolves around/A pointless, non-winning fight" (from "No Choice") don't exactly drip with unique insight. Fortunately, the music thrust out by Conner, guitarist Brian Sawyer, bassist Matt Lyon and drummer Matt Benson offsets these weaknesses. "Awakening" and the rest are unexpectedly multi-faceted, thanks to brutal playing and arrangements that are simultaneously complex and powerful.

Premonition doesn't clear the bases. But as anyone in the majors can attest, a .333 batting average ain't bad.