Album Review: Story of the Year, "In the Wake of Determination" (Maverick/Reprise)

The new single off Story of the Year's sophomore CD, "In the Wake of Determination," is a track called "We Don't Care Anymore." That's appropriate, given that fans might be saying the same thing after listening to the disc.

The St. Louis-based quintet of vocalist Dan Marsala, guitarists Ryan Phillips and Phillip Sneed, bassist Adam Russell and drummer Josh Wills sounds just as charged up as it did on its 2003 debut, "Page Avenue." But it's the type of charge that is bereft of any real electricity. Kicking off the album with "We Don't Care Anymore," the band members puff up their chests, slam out the notes and scream at, well, just about anything, as they rocket through "Take Me Back," "Our Time is Now" and "Taste the Poison." Yet, it all feels a bit aimless and not nearly as convincing or sincere as before.

Let's, for a second, take a look at the title: "In the Wake of Determination." Doesn't that translate roughly to mean that determination has already passed by and all we have is what's left? The band's playing on this album seems to support that theory.

The album, thankfully, comes to an end with a strange tune named "'Is This My Fate?' He Asked Them." For the sake of the band, and its fans, let's hope this album doesn't serve as the answer to that question.