"This is a American cliche," primal-screams Richard Patrick a few minutes into Filter's new album. Well, his grammar may not be stellar, but at least he's aware of his band's musical shortcomings.

The Amalgamut, the third disc from the former Nine Inch Nails sideman and his cronies, is every bit as conventional as the societal conformity he wastes much of his breath ranting against. Most of these dozen tracks are a been-there-done-that affair, repeatedly recycling the same detuned, sawtooth guitar chugging, the same quiet-loud post-grunge arrangements, and the same top-of-your-lungs bellow we've all been subjected to for too many years now by everyone from Gravity Kills to Nickelback.

The only bright side is that Patrick's formulaic approach also extends to his trademark poppy singles -- like previous hits Hey Man, Nice Shot and Take a Picture, the Cheap Trick-ish power ballads Where Do We Go From Here and The Only Way (Is the Wrong Way) are the brightest, tightest, most enjoyable cuts on an otherwise uninspired outing.

Next time, boys, try to filter out some of your own cliches before you worry about everybody else's. (More on Filter)

Track Listing
1. You Walk Away
2. American Cliche
3. Where Do We Go From Here
4. Columbind
5. The Missing
6. The Only Way (Is The Wrong Way)
7. My Long Walk To Jail
8. So I Quit
9. God Damn Me
10. It Can Never Be The Same
11. World Today
12. The 4th