The War Within

The War Within is the fourth album, pushing memorable melody forward while using slicing twin guitars, heavy breakdowns and fierce vocals. Released on Century Media in September 2004, produced again by Zeuss. The songs race, but riff changes build big swells. It's the band's signature work and biggest hit. Selling 39,250 copies in its first week, it debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200. It topped the independent chart, became the label's best-selling album ever, and passed 300,000 worldwide. From the opener “The Light That Blinds” through “What Drives the Weak,” it pushes straight through; that song earned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. In 2005 they played the Ozzfest main stage, a first for the so-called NWOAHM class. Thrash technique and hardcore physicality bind tightly, and even a long piece like “Ghosts of Past Failures” has strong forward drive — a record that gave 2000s metal aggression a refined shape.