After a double concept album that's exceeded critical and fan expectation, just where do you go? It's a question I don't have an answer to, and it seems neither did Archive.With Us Until You're Dead opens with the soaring 'Wiped Out'. Pollard Berrier stretches his voice and melodic sense way beyond anything he'd even hinted at before. Orchestral sweeps, Darius Keeler's tinkling piano, some wonderfully textured drums. It's not really a development from 'Controlling Crowds', but it's an absolutely wonderful song regardless. Two songs later, the tender ballad 'Stick Me In My Heart' continues that theme, sounding like a direct sequel to earlier single 'The Empty Bottle'. These are exceptions, however, to the album's overall feel, which is heavy on rhythm and light on melody. Much in the way You All Look the Same to Me was followed by the less consistent and noisier Noise, With Us Until You're Dead removes much of the drama and sweep from Controlling Crowds, and replaces it with clattering drums and distortion. Whilst this dynamic is different, it's difficult to perceive it as anything other than being weaker. It's hard to highlight particular songs of Berrier and Pen's contributions, as the bulk of the album blurs into a fairly samey cacophony. It's not especially bad, but it doesn't really excite.After the Controlling Crowds sessions, Rosko John parted company with Archive once more. Enter Holly Martin. With a powerful voice that sounds more contemporary than Maria Q's classic soulful tones, Martin has become hugely popular with the band's fans. She sings on two of the album's singles here. 'Violently' is a wonderfully baffling piece which moves from aggressive distorted trip-hop, through sci-fi synths, into a jarringly jaunty string and piano section. I'm not convinced it all works, but it's one of the most surprising and original songs I own. Martin's other key contribution here is the bluesy, energetic 'Hatchet', which has barely left my head since I first heard it, and stands up as one of the group's best pop songs.Wish Us Until You're Dead isn't without its strengths, but unfortunately Archive sound a bit too wiped out after the colossal Controlling Crowds project to come up with a worthy successor at this point.

cant find the a song that stands out...the more i hear it the more complex and noisy i find it, too much percussion not enough emotional melodies...i will wait for the next one and keep listening to the older ones.

The CD is a 12tracks, "A" logo is printed (no sticker), the red colour of the CD is lighter than regular version.