Fans of Third Day's self-titled debut on Reunion Records should prepare themselves for the growth that is displayed on the band's sophomore release, Conspiracy No. 5. The Atlanta-based band upped the aggression ante somewhat, while still retaining their penchant for melodic hooks. Of course, three years have passed since much of the material on the first album was recorded for the band's independent project. So you would expect the band to mature during that period, especially given the amount of time they have spent on the road. The songs on Conspiracy No. 5 have a dynamic, energetic feel, which is enhanced by singer Mac Powell's richly textured voice. The driving rock of "Have Mercy," "More To This" and "You Make Me Mad" show some serious musical muscle. The twin guitar attack of Brad Avery and Mark Lee plays off the percussion section of drummer David Carr and bassist Tai Anderson well, creating a wall of sound that has texture and depth. The ballads also have some punch. "More Than I Deserve" starts out with a simple acoustic guitar, building to a full band production by the end of the chorus. A similar approach is used on "Gomer's Theme." Based on the story of the prophet Hosea's wife, the music accentuates the bittersweet tale. Powell, the primary lyricist, tends to write in a fairly straightforward fashion. He looks both inward and outward, mixing introspection (as in "Give Me A Reason" and "More Than I Deserve") with songs about relationships ("How's Your Head?" and "Mad"). As he demonstrated on Third Day, Powell can write a pretty decent praise song. He repeats that feat on Conspiracy No. 5 with the cuts "My Hope Is You" and "Peace." With 13 cuts clocking in at more than 57 minutes, those not familiar with Third Day will find this a good introduction to the band. Fans of their previous work should welcome their maturing with open arms. The band has improved on its strengths while diminishing its weaknesses--and that's always a good thing.