If Korn was the new Faith No More, Incubus [ tickets ] was the new Pearl Jam. But with "A Crow Left of the Murder," Incubus ushers in a new era of glossy prog rock.

In a way, their latest album sees the band embrace all of its California "rawk" roots, by going punk, goth and metal all at once.

You can thank guitar whiz Mike Einziger for the switch. His fancy handiwork is all over the album's 14 ambitious cuts. From his everlasting solo on "Sick Sad Little World," to the raucous rhythm that powers album-opener and surefire hit, "Megalomaniac," Einziger's ear-splitting metallic notes lay the foundation for the rest of the band to rock out.

Singer and poster-boy Brandon Boyd now incorporates a dark, Jonathan Davis-inspired sound in between his Geddy Lee-esque vocal gymnastics. His lyrics remain quasi-collegiate. Evidence: "I heard a word from on high/Clear like a light in the sky/It said, 'quit blowing each other up,'" from "Made for TV Movie."

So "A Crow Left of the Murder"--whatever the name means is anyone's guess--is a very prog-metal album. Yes, Incubus has the goods to craft some blisteringly powerful guitar madness--albeit occasionally hook-less, forgettable madness--like most prog rock, essentially.

Editor's Note: Incubus' publicist--and more than a few other readers--remind us that, in another definition, 'murder' means a group of crows--similar to the way 'herd' refers to sheep. Which ought to answer our reviewer's question about the meaning of the album's title.