I couldn't agree more. I hate it when bands sound exactly the same. But they have to keep certain elements as they grow. A lot of bands have been able to do it. Tesla come to mind.
I'm not 100% sure what is missing from this album but whatever it is, it's making it dull as hell.
The songs, man. Simple as that. They're just really poor songs with no hooks or melody at all. And to me it's as easy as that. Like I said above, the musicianship and production is still top notch, but it counts for shit if you don't have any half decent songs to use it on.
I like bands who mix it up too, but you have to stay within reason. I would rather a band stick to a samey formula than change for the sake of change and end up sounding awful... which is what I think has happened here. I'd much, much, much rather a carbon copy of either of their first two albums than this trainwreck. And that's coming from someone who doesn't really rate their first two too high, but they're sure as hell a lot better than this one.
Agree with Geoff, I don't mind a slight "change" in the formula but not this. And yes, Production and Musicianship are totally there but without good songs.