If the debut album by Atlanta-based alt-rockers
Illbreak sounds oddly familiar, it might be because they're protégés of
3 Doors Down's
Todd Harrell, who released
The Flood on his own label. Just like
Harrell's own band,
Illbreak are following a well-trodden path through the previous couple of decades' worth of commercial alternative rock: singer Gareth Asher has a booming voice and a lyrical tendency toward Big Statements that can easily be traced through
Creed's
Scott Stapp and
Live's
Ed Kowalczyk back to save-the-world-era
Bono, and lead guitarist Josh Huff likely owns his share of
Stone Temple Pilots,
Pearl Jam, and
Alice in Chains records. There are few original ideas to be found on
The Flood, but songs like the first single "How It Feels" (which features a moderately cool processed guitar hook) and the reaching-for-anthem-status opener "Wake" have their minor charms. However, far too much of the album is over-produced, generic alterna-rock of little interest. ~ Stewart Mason