Story of the Year released their debut album Page Avenue in September 2003 through major label Maverick Records.

The album, which was produced by John Feldmann,[1] received substantial airplay at radio and video outlets.

[3] Vocalist Dan Marsala said the success of the album "started to get to all of us ... [We] got lumped in with all of these new bands ... that aren't really that good".

[6] After the touring cycle for Page Avenue concluded in late 2004, the group immediately began writing for their second album.

Most of the writing sessions took place at guitarist Ryan Phillips' house, which also acted as a practice area.

[4] The group wanted to capture their live sound, which Marsala said was a bit heavier than what was heard on Page Avenue.

[7] In late April, sessions moved to Phillips' personal studio, The Steamy Nook in St Louis, Missouri.

[9] Phillips tracked his guitar solos in a single day, and by the end, "there was skin hanging off all of my fingers and I could barely bend the strings anymore.

[8] In the Wake of Determination drew comparison to Thrice,[10] with Marsala's voice recalling Bad Religion frontman Greg Graffin.

For this album, Phillips focused on making his solos complement the song, fit within the structure, and come across as more melodic.

"[8] According to Phillips, the track was a result of an agreement between him and his girlfriend: "I got all pissed off, got up, opened up Pro-tools, and started recording shit.

According to Phillips, the song's initial iteration "didn't work", so the group re-worked it until it evolved into a "full on rock tune.

"[8] He explained: "I've seen a lot of friends let things consume them and in the long run it ends up ruining everything they've worked for.

[8] "Meathead" displays the band's hardcore punk origins;[11] the music for it was written six months before lyrics were added.

The album's hidden track "A Silent Murder / Slow Jam" was conceived as the intro for "Taste the Poison".

[8] On July 22, 2005, In the Wake of Determination was announced for release in October,[14] and "We Don't Care Anymore" was posted on the group's Myspace profile.

[24] In October and November, the band performed on the International Taste of Chaos tour which visited Mexico, Australia, Japan, the UK and Germany.

[28] From February to April, the band went on the 2006 Taste of Chaos North American tour; they were replaced by Thursday for the Canadian dates.

[20] To coincide with this, "Take Me Back" was released as a CD single with live versions of "Until the Day I Die" and "And the Hero Will Drown" as B-sides.

[33] AllMusic reviewer Johnny Loftus said the album was a "rewardingly heavy" collection that manages to be accessible for those that enjoyed the power ballad "Anthem of Our Dying Day" on Page Avenue.

[34] Loftus complimented Evetts production, saying he brought out the "hardness without shutting down" the group's melodic nature.

wrote that the group created an "epic" record that "gets the kids singing along, stomping their feet and screaming their names.

[45] All music composed by Story of the Year; all lyrics written by Dan Marsala and Adam Russell.