Alternative rock with a pinch of the ’80s

For those looking for a fun rock ’n’ roll album, this record won’t hinder the search.

Oklahoma rock band Hinder brings listeners Take It to the Limit after the great success of their debut Extreme Behavior. With the help of hits like “Get Stoned” and “Lips of an Angel,” they are currently one of the top bands in modern rock, right up there with acts like Nickelback and Three Days Grace.

Yet, despite their popular alternative-rock vibe, Hinder’s new record has nuances of classic and ’80s-alternative rock, at times sounding redolent of legends such as Aerosmith or Def Leppard.

“Use Me” starts out with guitar riffs that sound like they’re right out of 1987. The anthemic question-and-answer vocals keep the tune locked in to the sound of that decade. There’s no denying it, “Use Me” is just a good rock song, no matter what decade it comes from. This rocking jam will likely be as popular as “Get Stoned,” though it is more of a happy party anthem, and less of a hard rock drama piece.

Fans of the sentimental hit on their debut, the aforementioned “Lips of an Angel,” might be disappointed that there is no sequel or similar ballad-like smash comparable to it here. With that being said, that doesn’t mean the album doesn’t have any slow songs – they just aren’t nearly as good.

The first four tracks on this release are power songs. The first ballad “Without You” comes right on time, as if by queue. The melody’s not bad, but it’s lacking the emotive power “Angel” had.  It is definitely their attempt to follow “Angel” and at writing a hit “power ballad,” but it the feeling just isn’t there, and it shouldn’t be as popular.

Take It to the Limit is not a bad disc, but it’s still miles away from great. This release will not get the critical, or commercial acclaim their first debut had, but big fans of the genre will get a lot of mileage out of it.