Gone are the tromp and stomp metal screamers and present are the highly-produced commercial sounds of a pop-metal band a la Europe. It's a dramatic change for a band named Bloodgood, but it works. "We didn't want to release a 'Detonation part two'," explains Michael Phillip Bloodgood. It was time for them to make a change, without departing from the metal genre. With "Rock in a Hard Place" they make the transition from on-the-edge metal band that shreds and rips to a marketable, hard-rockin' band with a ton of catchy hooks. Bloodgood hasn't really changed their style here. According to a radio interview that Frontline released, RIAHP basically just shows another personality or side to the band. In concert they still roar through their crunchy and speedy tunes, plus they beef up the songs on this album. A lot of headbangers will cry "sold out", but I'll have to cast my vote for Bloodgood. The fact it, whether it's commercial or not, it's still a good album. Bloodgood has written nine songs with great hooks and hot lead breaks. Claude Leslie Carlsen delivers each one with the passion he's known for. David Vincent Zaffiro's guitar is more prominent in the mix then their previous two efforts and, during several songs, feature something new for Bloodgood - an acoustic track. It's a nice touch that adds some extra body to the sound. "Shakin' It" starts off the album with an Aerosmith-style rhythm and blues assault and a tongue-in-cheek sermon concerning the judgement which begins in the house of God. It seems as if the boys from Seattle are really having fun on this one. Zaffiro pulls off some killer string-stretching response notes to Carlsen's voice here. "Never Be the Same" has one of those catchy choruses that you just have to sing along with: "I am cal-ling you..." "What Have I Done" deserves the wider audience that Bloodgood is searching for. If only they had the promotional dollars that Journey has...then you'd hear this song on every radio station and see a video of it on MTV. Choice cuts on the album for me are the two heaviest songs: "Do or Die" and "Heaven on Earth". "Do or Die" pulsates with efficient, crunchy rhythms. Mark Howard Welling's snare drumming is upfront and accurate. "She's Gone" is another emotional song a la "Alone in Suicide". Included here are the ever-present acoustic guitar tracks by Zaffiro that all the reviews are commenting on. They add a nice feel to the song, creating a fuller sound. He also pulls off some clean leads here too. The theme of the song runs close to "Alone in Suicide", where a girl takes her life, leaving the writer agonizing this loss and wishing for the time back to tell her about Jesus. Overall, I'd say Bloodgood timed this new sound well. They never waited in one place long enough for anyone to accuse them of being stuck in a rut. If you've got broad tastes and especially love melodic metal, you'll like this release. If you're only satisfied with barn-burners like "Black Snake" and "Crucify", just buy the new Vengeance album.