Hawthorne Heights — Fragile Future

No one would have begrudged Hawthorne Heights if they'd called it quits after last year's accidental death of guitarist/lead singer Casey Calvert. Rather than replace him, the now-foursome are trudging on with the missing parts of their soundscape replaced with beefier guitars and a few gang vocals. Both the disc's title track and mid-album standout "Sugar In The Engine," seem to be a dedication Calvert's memory (the majority of Fragile Future's lyrics appear heavily influenced by the death, as one would expect). It's your typical radio-friendly emo rock fare: "Just call my name when it feels like you're slipping away/Don't look back until we meet again." Some decent drumming digressions and the odd piano-driven refrain add some spice to what's otherwise a rather homogenous and unremarkable effort. This isn't going to convert any hold-outs, but long-time fans can rejoice because it's exactly what they've been waiting for.