“I’m talented with reason, I cover all the angles. I can fail before I even try.”

This lyric from “Bend and Not Break,” a track off Dashboard Confessional’s new album, “A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar” sums up the band’s current state.

“A Mark” proves Dashboard Confessional is a very talented band, perhaps more talented than most bands in their genre. It also proves that they are indeed capable of covering all the angles, musically speaking. Finally, it proves that if they are not careful in their future, they are capable of failing; fate will decide where this band goes from here.

From the sweet lullaby sounds of “Ghost of a Good Thing,” to the good, old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll of “Hey Girl,” to the love ballad that is “As Lovers Go,” these guys have proven their diversity.

The band steers clear of the typical punk rock beats and riffs that have overkilled other, similar albums. “A Mark” blends the lyrics and ideas of punk rock with alternative and modern rock.

Singer/guitarist Chris Carrabba does a good job of writing and singing lyrics that apply to different audiences. For the ladies, he sings “So Beautiful,” with the lyrics, “Careful now, you’re so beautiful/ when you’ve convinced yourself/ that no one else is quite as beautiful.”

For the guys, Carrabba sings “Carve Your Heart Out of Yourself,” which contains the lyrics, “Dig your ditch deep enough/ to keep you clear of the sun/ You’ve been burned more than once/ You don’t think much of trust.”

“A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar” is a huge step forward for Dashboard Confessional and hopefully their fans will step with them. If the quality of the album itself isn’t enough to convince people to buy it, there is also a DVD included, titled “Far from Home Movies,” an appropriate title for a companion to an album that’s far from ordinary.