Moving beyond mere angst and anguish, this Southern California quintet turn their sophomore album into a compelling exploration of faith, suffering, and acceptance. Lead singer Joel Quartuccio’s formidable presence finds a welcome complement in the clean vocals of newly recruited guitarist/singer Michael McGough. The two of them keep the music teetering between tragedy and triumph, underscoring the spiritual struggles at the album's heart. Perish is a work of stark, often violent contrasts, heard in the dynamic shifts and seething textures of “Death’s Great Black Wing Scrapes the Air,” “We Drag the Dead on Leashes,” and similar tracks. “L’exquisite Douleur” is particularly arresting in its explosive drumwork and eerily distant gang vocals. As before, Quartuccio’s manic bellows and commanding spoken-word interludes bring a depth of humanity to BAAO that goes beyond typical post-hardcore releases. On “Mothers,” he confronts the painful last days of a parent with an unflinching honesty that’s ultimately heroic. The austere, electronica-tinged beauty of “Natures” brings the album to a close, reaffirming its message of hard-won redemption.