Coming off the success of their second full-length album, 2007's Optics, Chicago's I:Scintilla have toured the country extensively and written new material for their eagerly awaited follow up due out in Early 2010. With a sound that incorporates numerous styles readily assembled to get your body moving, vocalist/lyricist Brittany Bindrim, guitarist/programmer Jim Cookas, drummer Vincent Grech and gutarist/programmer Brent Leitner have put together a brief taste of things to come with a charged new EP called Prey On You which features three new songs and five exclusive remixes.

The title track opens things up and it becomes clear quickly that the band have a new found sense of confidence as well as a great deal of synergy. Energetic and infectious with a grinding bass line and smooth synthplay Bindrim takes charge here like never before, hopping from key change to key change expertly and nailing the irresistible and challenging chorus like a diva on a deathride. There's plenty of appealing ephemeral atmosphere layered within the music along with some playful Trance-like tendencies making this an unrelenting club classic. They follow it up with the high tempo "Ammunition," all adrenalized guitars and acidic electronics. It wouldn't be a good idea to listen to this while driving because it's going to be difficult to observe state traffic laws while it's cranking out of your speakers. There's not a lot of variation in the song but it all goes by so quickly you won't really have time to notice.

"Hollowed" is a completely different creature than its two companions. It has a rock Industrial stomp reminiscent of Marilyn Manson without all the garish theatrics and cartoony lyrics. The vocals swing nicely to the cadence and Bindrim really wails during the chorus. Thanks in large part to her efforts this track doesn't seem so derivative as it might have otherwise.

None of the three were in need of a reworking to make them more palatable to DJ sets looking to keep dancers moving. And yet we have Sebastian Komor's version of "Prey On You," carrying a more straightforward and steady approach accentuating a mid-tempo stomp in the face of the original's more frenetic pacing. Cylab's take on the same song cuts and pastes the vocals and music bringing a more disjointed, almost glitchy edge to the party. Meanwhile, the Hard Dance Mix by Studio X invites I:Scintilla to a thumping rave and juices up the song with plenty of sonic tricks. That particular version might have been better served with a little brevity but it's fun nonetheless.

C/A/T slows "Ammunition" way down with grinding digital sludge and scathing white noise. It provides a great contrast to the original's full throttle approach and sounds as though it's corroding and collapsing in on itself as it lumbers along. Yet it, too, seems to overstay its welcome by a minute or so. Rounding out the set is "Hallowed (Indigent Mix by Die Warzau)," eschewing the guitars for clanging, percussive lurch and sway.

If you're a fan of the group I don't think I have to convince you to pick Prey On You up. Chances are you've already pre-ordered the EP and if you haven't yet let this be a reminder that you're a little behind. If you've been curious about checking them out then this particular release should serve to sell you on their ebullient combination of rock and dance. And if for some reason you aren't at all familiar with I:Scintilla then brace yourself because with cuts as strong as these it's going to be difficult to continue avoiding them.