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Since starting in 2002, the Connecticut-based Life In Your Way has independently released an EP and a full-length record. The group has earned fanfare in Christian circles for its spiritual lyrics and in mainstream sectors for its relatively original melodic hardcore sound. Earlier this year, the band inked a deal with Floodgate Records to release their latest, Ignite and Rebuild.

From the get-go, it's hard to confine Life In Your Way to any particular alternative rock box. They shred with intensity, and their screams bulldoze their way through each thunderous riff. But there's also an underlying melodic movement in the material, and raw emotion that could almost be classified as emo if the instrumentation wasn't so aggressive. In any case, cuts like "Hope Is War," "Threads of Sincerity" and "To the Edge" explode with grit and tension at times, while being toned down every so often with tender-hearted moans.

That balance is further displayed throughout "More Than Efforts," a track about making a difference for eternity by reaching out to those hurting around us. "Evident" further alludes to faith, perhaps speaking about the reality of God's presence in a society that always tries to cast beliefs aside. Unfortunately, "Light in Mine" and "When Rules Change" aren't as constructive, rumbling to such a degree that it becomes mere noise after awhile where it's hard to decipher what's being sung. Thankfully it's not a pattern throughout the otherwise adventurous project—one likely to inspire within the typically dark framework of the modern hard rock world. And hopefully with time, Life In Your Way can continue to tighten up and combine a positive message with rhythmic strength to fans of all backgrounds.

© Andy Argyrakis, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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