Are you looking for well-crafted screamo mixed with a little post-hardcore and plenty of pop? Then Four Letter Lie may be the band for you. Perhaps not for me, but I am sure they have fans out there.

This quintet from Minneapolis, Minnesota, definitely knows how to play both sides towards the middle. There is enough poppy hook-laden material to draw in that crowd, while there is enough hardcore-esque moments to draw in those looking for something with a little punch. The result will be a mixed pit, which will see alternating crowds doing their thing throughout each song. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is also not conducive to drawing diehard fans from either quarter. Of course, an outsider such as myself needs to be ready to reconcile one with the other and attempt to judge the music on its own merits.

On my first pass through Four Letter Lie's latest, What A Terrible Thing to Say, I was almost ready to write them off, something I still may do. However, I stuck with it and have plowed through the ten song set a few times. While it is not exactly to my taste, there is no denying they know how to write catchy tunes that rattle around in your head for awhile. Granted, I found they rattled right on out after I stopped playing them, but that could just be my brain being wired more towards other genres and styles. When Four Letter Lie was at the heaviest was when they were most effective, especially when they added bits of melody to the mix.

The band made their Victory Records debut in 2006 with Let Your Body Takeover and is now back with their sophomore release following spots on Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos, furthering national exposure. The blend of music they play seems poised for good things, and I suspect they will find a boost in album sales with the release of What A Terrible Thing to Say.