While earlier
Time in Malta material was quite impressive with its diversity of emo, hardcore, and metal,
A Second Engine smacks of the same general heavy riffage and style that lie somewhere between the next up and coming emocore band in the indie scene and some band one might hear on a local hard rock station. If only the right people were to hear
Time in Malta, it seems like the group could achieve much of the same success that many of those hard rock bands have garnered. The lyrics are probably the key difference between a Wind-Up Records offering and a record by this San Fran trio:
Time in Malta's words are really cryptic and intelligent, and would no doubt leave the average nu-metal fan scratching his head. The combination of singing and screaming works amicably and is necessary to note. However, the revelation that in many regards the indie scene isn't too different from mainstream hard rock acts can't help but make fans of D.I.Y. feel a little depressed. ~ Kurt Morris