With their sophomore album, Canadian post-grunge band Theory of a Deadman moved away from their tight relationship with Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and diversified their heavy rock sound. The change-up comes through as softer—but still brooding—atmospheres, employing acoustic guitar that fills out songs like the wistful “Santa Monica” or “Hello Lonely (Walk Away from This)”, with a chorus that aims for the nosebleeds. “Hating Hollywood”, though, builds the opening track into a hard-rock maelstrom that pits chunky riffs against Tyler Connolly’s gritty vocals.