I loved Ronny Munroe with this band and hated that the four studio records he did weren't successful. Maybe it's that disappointment that forced me to dislike Howe's return to the fold and the subsequent 'XI' record. I've been a Howe fan, and really love his work on 'Hanging in the Balance'. Now that Howe has pushed this band into the black for the first time in a while, the group's new record 'Damned If You Do' seems to echo that success. There's something much better happening on this album than the last. The riffs are better, the vocals are improved (although never really great) and the band's writing and intensity level is reminiscent of Munroe's era. I really like this album and find it a triumphant return to form for the San Francisco vets.