Some might consider the term "two-minute epic" a bit of an oxymoron. Then again, after hearing the freshest slab of wax from Philly's finest punk rock brethren, Paint it Black, a whole slew of subjects might be up for re-evaluation.

Paint it Black's cathartic debut full-length, CVA, received countless raves due much in part to the group's blistering intensity-all seventeen songs neatly encapsulated on one mind-boggling eighteen minute tour-de-force. Enraptured by the raw, unbridled passion the band harnessed on CVA, many impressed listeners openly wondered, "How the hell can these guys top that?"

Always up for a new challenge, these hardcore veterans are eager to top their previous high-water mark with a spankin' new disc full of "epics" that are as dynamic as they are full-throttle. The results of the follow-up are, to say the least, tantalizing.

"Paradise is a sort of revolution," Paint it Black frontman and ex-Lifetime/Kid Dynamite shredder Dan Yemin chuckles. "There are no songs under one minute on Paradise, which, for us, is new ground to tread."

Though the songs are twice as long, there is no need to worry about potential Pink Floyd-length opuses on Paradise; rather, the band has re-focused and, in turn, fine-tuned its intrinsic tenor into a razor-edged combo that channels the emotionally charged "Revolution Summer" era Dischord bands like Embrace or Rites of Spring, as equally as it does Black Flag or Negative Approach, while taking note of several other noise and indie pioneers, Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine, for instance, along the way.

In the end, what transpires is a J. Robbins (Promise Ring, Jets to Brazil, Jimmy Eat World) produced stunner that merges the dizzying ferocity fans of the group know and love with a sense of melody that hasn't been as sharp since Yemin's own Lifetime classic, Hello Bastards.

According to bassist Andy Nelson, "We pushed ourselves a lot harder on this record. While wewanted to keep the intensity of the first album, we wanted this one to be less restrictive. It's definitely a punk record, but we wanted to do stuff we hadn't done before, like blending a shoe-gazer type part in the midst of the rest of the chaos."

Experimentation aside, don't expect anything without the heart and soul drenched Paint it Black stamp of approval. After all, as Nelson chides, "I made the claim that if we had any songs over two minutes I was going to quit. I'm still here, so I guess it all worked out."

Just as bands like Bad Brains and The Clash created an aesthetic which combined both emotional and political sensibilities during their eras, Paradise, a darkly ironic title for this musical missile, injects a powerful double-pronged critique of the current political dilemmas faced by our highly polarized society, and how that divisiveness is reflected in the fabric of our familial and romantic relationships.

"The title of this record is definitely a stark contrast to the subject matter," Yemin states. "It's a lot about war and conflict, alienation and paranoia, but also about the illusion of everything being 'okay' on both a personal and political level. Right now people in this country are celebrating things like patriotism, while everything is truly rotting underneath the surface. As a nation, we're coming apart at the seams."

While the lyrics on Paradise do reflect the troubled times, Yemin hopes listeners can also find inspiration within the desperation, so to speak.

"For me, music has always been a tool for transcendence," Yemin, a doctor of psychology during the day hours, shares with a glimmer. "It's a pretty powerful way to rise above the filth we are exposed to everyday. Hopefully people can find inspiration in it."

Based on what Paint it Black has cooked up this time, only one listen should be required before devotion and admiration carry on.