Taking Back Sunday

Anyone who felt like Taking Back Sunday were on hiatus in the years between Tell All Your Friends and this, their self-titled comeback with their marquee line-up, will be as pleasantly surprised by the return of John Nolan and Shaun Cooper as they will be pissed about what remains of the borderline arena-rock tendencies the band developed in the interim. Taking Back Sunday has many of the same dynamics as Tell All Your Friends ― the energy and layered hooks ― but it's far from the second coming. If anything, it succeeds as much because of its innovations as it does its familiarities. "El Paso" may be the heaviest thing the band have ever done, but it's the bounce of songs like "Faith (When I Let You Down)" and "Sad Savior" that make this feel like Taking Back Sunday by, and for, grown-ups, even if it doesn't sound much like it. "Who Are You Anyway?" asks, "are you worth the wait?" Taking Back Sunday was. It's as catchy as the filthiest disease, with none of the side effects, and maturation without compromising energy.