Eleven Minutes Away waste no time in showing the listener that they are a band in the vein of fellow Canadians
Alexisonfire or a more subdued
Billy Talent. The first track "Atrophy Acetylene" features the screams of frontman Chris Veska but then evolves into a melodic track with snippets of intensity. The metal guitar riffs kick in halfway through, slightly shifting gears. Fans of
Jimmy Eat World would adore the power pop of "I'm a Doctor, Not a Doorstop" with its tight melody in spite of Veska's incessant screaming. Too often, though, the songs come off as too perfected, too polished and a tad over-produced. This is especially true during the catchy and radio-friendly "P.S. I Hate You," as the chorus is the only redeeming quality. "Danger Inc." is another bright spot in the vein of
Taking Back Sunday or
the Exies with a mix of strong pop and some emo elements. There are some longer songs presented, beginning with the slow-building "Shall I Happily." However it never quite manages to be truly outstanding, relying on the moody, melancholic melody that sounds like early
Sloan circa
Twice Removed before the yelps begin again. The highlight has to be the full-out rocker "Enjoy the Disaster" that is well-executed thanks to guitarists Veska and Chris Reilly. A close second, however is "Alias:Grace," which mixes the softer side with the harder, edgier rock portion. The finale "Drilling Holes in His Head Is Not the Answer" focuses on this component with great results. It's an album with a few lulls but generally good songs.