Losing a band member is always hard for any band, but when you lose your vocalist, it’s a whole new ballgame. While a drummer or guitarist isn’t too difficult to replace, finding the right vocalist to fit the specific sound of the band can be a struggle. This happened to the Canadian hardcore outfit Comeback Kid in early 2006. Original vocalist Scott Wade decided to leave CBK; fortunately for the band, guitarist Andrew Neufeld stepped up to take over the frontman position. Now a quartet (Neufeld, drummer Kyle Profeta , guitarist Jeremy Hiebert , and bassist Kevin Call), Comeback Kid are now prepared to release their third album, Broadcasting…, on February 20th.

Implementing a new vocal sound can always be risky for a band that is as established with fans as Comeback Kid. Thankfully, Neufeld fronts another band (Figure Four) and was backing vocals on the band’s previous two releases, so while you can hear a difference in the vocal delivery, it’s still sounds like a Comeback Kid record. Only this time around, the sound is crisper, louder, and more dynamic than before and lyrically it is as strong as on previous albums. Produced by Bill Stevenson at The Blasting Room, it is one of the finer produced albums I’ve heard in a while.

“Defeated” kicks off the album with a guitar intro that just rips into your membrane. Combine that with raucous gang vocals, this track will get your adrenaline pumping immediately. The title track slowing builds up into a frenzy of hardcore and has a nice breakdown, while “Hailing On Me” features a nice drum solo from Profeta and Neufeld’s vocals shred throughout the track. “The Blackstone” is a very vibrant, in your face type of track, and “Industry Standards” really turns it up on the drums and guitar. “One Left Satisfied” has metal undertones, making it a very forceful song. “Come Around” just piledrives straight through your ears and the guitarwork is exceptional. “Market Demands” is a menacing track, showing a slightly different vibe from the usual. “Intuition” displays some of the best guitar work on the album and ends the album impressively. At times some of the songs sound like Figure Four, but for the majority of the album, Comeback Kid are very consistent on a record sure to melt faces.

Broadcasting… is an album that can make or break the fan base for Comeback Kid. Fortunately, Comeback Kid has written a good album that may prove to be their best record as time moves on. Broadcasting… will definitely bring in new fans as well as maintaining the previous fan base. Comeback Kid has never sounded better musically, and Broadcasting… will be one of the essential hardcore albums to own in 2007.