It would be all too easy to dismiss CKY, but the weight of this album, their third, is undeniable. Both Miller and Ginsburg have touted this as THE rock album of 2005, and while it may seem a little outspoken or ignorant to make such a claim, even the uneducated must realise that at the very least the band have some dedication and conviction in the music that they are making. In an era of faceless, generic pop-rock, this alone is worth its weight in gold. The other point in the band's favour is that they simply don't sound like anybody else out there, and the glorious fact of the matter is that these guys sure as hell have the tunes to back up that rock star attitude.
From the opening of 'Suddenly Tragic', a tingle races down the spine that lets you know that this album is something special. Pulling off mid-tempo rock songs without being boring is a skilled craft that CKY have spent years honing, and the jump in complexity and dexterity between 'Infiltrate Destroy Rebuild' and this, their latest release, firmly cements the band's place as masters of their craft. Deron Miller's grasp on melody has moved somewhat into the melancholic, which makes the sharp descents into sneering lyrical insults and blunt rhythm work stand out all the more. With opener 'Suddenly Tragic' the familiar CKY guitar tone returns in full force but brings with it the kind of hypnotic, driving hooks that you want to listen to for days, a trend that rarely relents throughout the rest of the record. Miller and Margera's work with previous band Foreign Objects springs to mind, suggesting that perhaps Miller is finally writing the songs that he's always wanted to.
The band have obviously done some exploration and growth over the last three years, and each song on 'Answer' twists and turns in often unexpected directions, frequently containing three or more different riffs and with the verse/chorus structure difficult to pin down. 'All Power To Slaves' and 'Tripled Manic State' drop into wonderfully understated sections; low end palm muting and clean vocals showcasing melody before power. 'Deceit Is Striking Gold' recalls earlier work in the snarling attitude of the vocals, but even this is steps ahead of the verse riffs of songs past such as 'Inhuman Creation Station', taking a few listens for the riff underlying the verses to reveal itself. When book-ended between the bittersweet cascade of 'Dressed In Decay' and the dark brooding of 'All Power To Slaves', first single 'Familiar Realm' simply doesn't have enough substance to stand out, and although the band claim the label picked this as the single, in context it sounds all too much like it was written for it. The ending pattern of a high octane penultimate track coupled with a ballad-like closer has been improved on since the last album; 'Sniped' packs a mighty punch of chugging riffs and snarls, while 'Don't Hold Your Breath' aches with longing, more understated than 'Close Yet Far' with touches of feedback enhancing the mournful sound.
Lyrically, 'Answer' retains Miller's aptitude for verbose lyrics that often leave the subject matter open to interpretation ("The universe is stalled/But your standards still stand tall/Digression of the civilised preparing for the fall"), which has always worked well with the mechanical-sounding guitar work. However, at times the lyrics allow a rare glimpse into honest, heartfelt emotions, most obviously on poignant closer 'Don't Hold Your Breath'. It's a gamble that pays off well and allows the album a little more depth and sincerity. Introspective acoustic interlude 'Behind The Screams' is further demonstration of a band maturing and no longer afraid to reveal something of themselves within their music.
Miller has always maintained that CKY play "slowed down death metal riffs", and never has this influence been more self evident than on 'An Answer Can Be Found'. Tracks like 'As The Tables Turn' and 'Dressed In Decay' astound with their melodic complexity and it isn't a big jump to trace such sounds through to At The Gates or In Flames. Miller's talent and skill as a musician has also never been more exquisitely showcased. In light of this the decision to omit the keyboard flourishes scattered throughout 'Infiltrate Destroy Rebuild' is understandable - the riffs this time around stand tall on their own, backed perfectly by Jess Margera's quirky and spot-on drumming. Elsewhere, Ginsburg's restrained production values and squealing solos add a refreshing extra dimension to CKY and reinforce the 'expect the unexpected' approach of the album. Miller's advancement in terms of vocals makes his clean singing the perfect compliment to the aggressively challenging guitar riffage, although fans of the band's live show will surely be aching for an injection of the roughness and energy his voice has on stage.
Overall, there is remarkably little room for improvement here. Three years of writing and recording has resulted in a monster of a rock album with all of the right ingredients: diversity, complexity and melody. Subtlety and restraint maintain a consistent quality throughout, and as the logical evolution from 'Infiltrate Destroy Rebuild', this is the delightful sound of a band that have matured and finally found themselves.
Oh, and by the way, this IS the answer you are looking for. Give it a listen, I'm sure you won't regret it.
A must buy for anyone! (and for £8.99 a good bargain!)
