Released in April 2011, Sweet Relief is a lot like its predecessor. The new album retains One Without’s youthful style of alternative metal with electronic flourishes and splashes of death metal, as well as the crisp production of Thoughts of a Secluded Mind. However, Sweet Relief is musically more potent than the debut album. One Without chose to amplify their death metal leanings, thus giving guitarist Kenny Boufadene more airtime for his grunts and incorporating more distorted riffs, blast beats, and other aggressive techniques to the music. Despite the increased intensity, One Without hasn’t forsaken Catrin Feymark’s warm, clean voice or the importance of traditional song structures and catchy melodies. This balance as well as the more melodic aspects of One Without’s sound – namely the calmer guitar sections – reminds me of Katatonia, an alternative doom metal band that’s currently one of the most popular and influential Swedish groups of its kind.

Though Sweet Relief has its quiet moments, overall it’s more like an hour-long shot of black coffee or vodka. It kicks off with the forceful yet fun "Hunger" and carries that momentum through the end. One Without, however, makes a conscious effort to make Sweet Relief more than just a semi-brutal onslaught. The sprinting chorus of "Burning With Your Hopes and Dreams" make the song an instant highlight. "Burned Once Again" and the title track also feature strong refrains while lyrically touching on domestic abuse and embracing death, respectively. On these and other tracks on Sweet Relief, Feymark adds sensitivity with her plaintive singing. Boufadene, on the other hand, breaks out into wild shrieking so often (more often than Mark Jansen grunts on any Epica record) that it makes his presence seem pointless at times.

Sweet Relief does offer a few gentler tracks. "Pretender" is an appropriate choice for the album’s first single. Limited growls, Feymark’s simple chorus, and light piano tinkering make this track a prime example of One Without’s musical duality. Midtempo rockers such as "Leaving Traces" and "This Is War" are also welcome breaks from the belligerence. The former is the album’s only gruntless track (so it features only Feymark on vocals), while the latter is a tour de force of dark and light moments that give the track a beautiful cinematic quality. As for "Catatonic," its union of grungy chords and doomy atmospheres hints at how (coincidentally) Katatonia’s music may have helped shaped One Without’s sound.

I want to like Sweet Relief for all of its strong points – but it’s difficult for me to do so. First of all, the record’s ambition detracts from its quality. With 17 songs, Sweet Relief is too long and feels even longer due to all the similar-sounding melodies and elements. Four or five of the weakest tracks could have been omitted to make the record shorter and less tedious. Second, One Without’s pubescent lyrical approach sometimes backfires. Lines such as "Useless, rotten, stinky piece of shit" ("Nothing To You") and "You tell me I’ve got issues / I’m gonna let you know / That my only issue is you" ("Stained With Your Words") come across as immature or standoffish – and may make listeners cringe. Of course, that’s if the album’s length or Boufadene’s omnipresent growling haven’t already driven them mad.

That said, One Without has managed a modest effort with Sweet Relief. This record is impeccable as far as overall production and sound are concerned. But, what about One Without’s newfound alt-death metal assertion? That will depend on the listener’s opinion. Not all fans will enjoy the heavier riffs, rougher approach, and excessive grunting. If anything, the adolescent nature of Sweet Relief may appeal more to younger metalheads. Older listeners may still like the record – if they’re willing to revisit the drama of their high school years. This generation gap might prevent Sweet Relief from sending shockwaves around the metal world. Yet, this album is still good enough that it will earn the appreciation of fans as well as the major players of the Gothenburg metal scene.　

7.5 / 10

Best Songs: "This Is War,"  "Pretender,"  "Hunger"

Recommended for fans of Katatonia, Deadlock, Evanescence, and current-day Lacuna Coil, or for anyone who likes female-fronted alternative rock/metal, hard rock, or melodic death metal

Sweet Relief is available for free or paid download exclusively through One Without’s official website and also for paid download through iTunes and Amazon.