[4/5]
Considering the breakups of everyone from Engine Down to Q And Not U in the past few years, the music world needs acts like the Valley Arena more than ever. While their debut album Take Comfort In Strangers delighted rock critics everywhere (and not many others), the follow-up takes the band's brand of Dischord Records-inspired post-hardcore to new levels of accessibility. From the equally driving and dissonant opener "Bed" to the angular dancefloor anthem "More Adorned," Sesso.Vita is surprisingly varied-and relevant-despite the fact the band's influences are now largely contained to retrospective books. "There's something happening here," frontman Warren Woodward sings on "Perfume Has Expired." We agree, but the real question is if there's anyone out there still willing to listen. (ANODYNE; anodynerecords.com) Jonah Bayer
 Official Website: http://www.anodynerecords.com
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