The clichéd ruckus of the Canada-based quartet Rumsfield’s 2004 sophomore album Terrible Times, and their sound as a whole, seems to be heavily influenced by the nu-metal sensibilities of yore, a la early Godsmack (…Times’ track "Black and Blue") or the puffed up en masse Slipknot (…Times’ track "Escape"). It’s not exactly memorable, or even exceptionally good, but that’s not a result of incompetent musicianship. In fact, quite the opposite seems to be the case.

On Terrible Times, the gents of Rumsfield, which is comprised of Dean Scott (vocals/guitar), Eric Turner (bass), Luke Scott (drums/vocals), and Mike Lefort (guitar), tend to know their way around their respective instruments. The leveled melodies of Dean’s vocals are met by his harmless scowls, but neither vocal styling has an edge, and stays away from being poles apart from his nu-metal brothers ("Die Again," "Soapscum"). There is a concrete rhythm section that helps propel these prudently catchy tunes, and the guitar toils provided by Mike and Dean are smooth ("Layers," "Stray"), but the lackluster riffs ruin any potential for Terrible Times to be an almost-notable album.

Aside from the good workmanship producing weak musical compositions, the lyrics of Terrible Times are quite mediocre. On "Grrl," Dean sings, "And I am sick with it/Seems we’re way past sick/All of the blood that’s dried/On those tired goodbyes/Coats me every time I fall." On "Too Late," Dean mumbles, "It’s time I felt this way before/I feel I’ve nothing anymore/Say what you think is on my mind/Those words losing meaning in time." They’re not horrible lines, but they sound strained, as if seeking some type of poetic verse and failing.

If anything, what Terrible Times has to offer is marketable music, but that can only take a band but so far.