Didn’t your mother tell you to be patient? If you fell in love with The Used’s self-titled debut, then that patience has finally paid off. Since June 2002, there has been much anxiety over whether or not The Used would become a one-hit-wonder, all of which was augmented with “Maybe Memories” (a CD-DVD released in the winter of 2003). This little teaser was a compilation with one disc of live and unreleased songs, and another disc with video bios and concert footage.

In spite of everything it offered, the set let down many fans and made the already heavy anxiety even heavier. After more than two whole years, they have finally rewarded their patient fans with a brand-spanking new album, “In Love and Death.” Even promotions for this CD were promising, but it appears that the band has truly outdone themselves.

The new release was produced by John Feldman (producer of their first release), who allowed them a wider breadth of experimentation and virtual free-reign. The evolution of the band is very evident, and why not? Before their debut album, The Used had only played in their hometown of Orem, Utah and they could barely finance their equipment, let alone a supply of drumsticks and strings. By the time they released “In Love and Death,” they had logged 600 tour dates on such ventures as “The Warped Tour” and “Ozzfest;” all this experience has brought out maturity the band lacked prior this release.

“In Love and Death” illustrates the bands growth. Bert’s voice isn’t quite as whiny, conveying lyrics that don’t seem as helpless as in the previous album. In the first single “Take It Away,” Bert (lead vocals) screams for shelter from the light (running from light in the video) and seems to shun the symbolic life and love. Yet through all the despair, his stronger voice clings to more hope than he would have been able to convey in the last record. This album also proves Bert’s maturity as he plays the piano in “Cut up Angels” and handles the string arrangements that add true depth to these screamo-ballads.

What is left to be said about “In Love and Death?” Listeners may very well weep their way through the awesome love song “I Caught Fire” or form a one man mosh-pit to the power of the following track “Let it Bleed.” With Bert’s phenomenal ability to sing and scream powerful emotions while the band fires off evocative riffs, those who haven’t already bought the CD (the converted and the unconverted) can expect a euphoric experience that no other band has offered this year.