After Pallbearer avoided the dreaded "sophomore slump" with 2014's killer Foundations of Burden, fan expectations run high, and rightfully so. It was so close to a perfect illustration of the band's growth (and an aesthetic shot in the arm for metal) that it raised expectations for what would come next. If Heartless offers anything out of the gate, it's that Pallbearer is relentless in their pursuit of musical growth on all fronts: Much tighter songwriting, canny self-production, poetic lyrics, elaborate melodic invention, well-placed dynamics, exploratory textures, and inspired performances. Over seven songs that run nearly an hour, Pallbearer reveal more confidence and sophistication than anyone could have expected. Brett Campbell's singing showed improvement on Foundations of Burden over its predecessor, but was still somewhat unconvincing. No longer. His voice is as much a dominant focal point as the band's punishing riffs. He lyrical delivery of these tunes is authoritative; he fully inhabits the emotional depths these songs plumb. The interplay between his and Devin Holt's guitars is more intricate and empathic (check the labyrinthine opener "I Saw the End" or the opening third of "Dancing in Madness" for incontrovertible proof). Joe Rowland's bass has a more prominent role in this mix. What's more, his lyrics (including sole authorship of the title track) shine darkly as they tread the caverns of loss and grief. Drummer Mark Lierly tight-rope walks between chugging grooves, plodding thuds, and low-end engineering.

1		I Saw the End
2		Thorns
3		Lie of Survival
4		Dancing in Madness
5		Cruel Road
6		Heartless
7		A Plea for Understanding