The alternative flowing Fray is back with their fourth album Helios, a bouncing, pop sounding collection of sweet and melancholy songs released on Feb. 25 of this year. The album’s lead single was released on Oct. 21 of last year, but that was just a taste of the full album to come.

Helios received mixed reviews from critics upon its introduction into the world. While Kevin Catchpole from PopMatters gave it a 6 out of 10, James Christopher Monger from Allmusic gave it a 2.5 out of 5 stars. According to critics like these, Helios fell somewhere in the middle of the chart of interest, pulling up just short of something spectacular.

“The disappointing thing is how slight movements of innovation appear for fleeting seconds only, then disappear into the ether. It suggests a band that is capable of so much more, if only it wanted to try,” Catchpole had commented.

It’s unusual that this RIAA double platinum band failed to impress with an outstanding album after their worldwide fame half a decade earlier. Their debut album How to Save a Life was received with national acclaim, their first single “Over My Head (Cable Car)” landed a solid spot in the United states top ten, and “How to Save a Life,” the song that earned them national recognition, rose to a solid number on the top five singles chart in several countries.

Even their second self-titled album got pushed to the top spot on the Billboard charts and accepted a gold in the United States, despite mixed critical reception. Their third album only hit number four on the Billboard 200, but was still no achievement to scoff at, despite more critic’s comments.

So while this album may seem to have brushed away their rising fame, no one can predict what to expect from this American alternative rock band. The warm embrace of Helios may still be wrapping around the country.