The eponymous debut of this hard-rock quartet is full of fire, but Second Coming is skilled enough at its craft that the songs never rage too far out of control. Theirs is a finely honed series of sonic explosions, and while there are no concessions to crossover appeal here (if you want heartfelt ballads, try a John Denver album), the band tempers their Tool/Korn-type guitar thrash and metal/industrial beats with a sense of structure and dynamics that keeps things consistently listenable no matter how ominous things get. The lyrics are another strong point here, far more thoughtful and well-considered than on your average heavy-rock release, helping to make SECOND COMING a powerful debut.