When we think of BodyPump 62, three words come to mind: Dance, Trance, Techno. To be sure, not every track fully fits that classification, but if you're a fan of those styles then you're gonna love this release. Does it get the job done? Let's take a look:

Warm Up - Instructors that find themselves intimidated by hard-to-memorize warm up routines be glad to know the formula for this track is about as basic as it gets. Halfway through the masterclass video Emma Barry asks a nearly silent crowd "Is there anybody out there?" It's yet another love song warm-up. 'Nuff said.

Squats - We've yet to see a squat song run less than five minutes, and this release is no exception. Clocking in at a looong 5:52, you've got to turn the dial way back to release #45 to find a longer squat sequence. That means there's plenty of time to grind out the over 100 squats in this track, nearly half of which are singles!

Chest - Three working sets punctuated by single+half combo sequences populate this monster track from multi-talented French artist Bob Sinclar. Instructors better bring their A-game to the launch: The post-break "party" sequence is tough to execute, and even harder to cue. As a side note, C+C Music Factory fans will immediately recognize riffs sampled straight off Gonna Make You Sweat, which also happens to feature "Everybody Dance Now" as its song subtitle.

Back & Hamstrings - If you happen to be a fan of deadlifts, this is the track for you. With two breaks and limited overhead work we'll give this workout a two on a scale of five for difficulty. Looking to go up on your weights? Consider this your personal invitation...

Triceps - Up to this point - and even to halfway through this track - release 62 threatened to leave us wanting for something new. Not that Tricep Pullovers are anything new, but we haven't had 'em in awhile - and after four tracks of "same ol', same ol'" we'll take it. A nice standing extension combo sequence finished off with tricep pushups completes a quirky, yet effective, Gwen Stefani track. Instructors, take extra care with this one - these quick transitions might be tough for newbies and older participants. Video note: Elbows, please (y'all know who you are!)

Biceps - Lights out, folks. It's Evanescence time, and it's got an angry sound. At 3:32 it's also the shortest track in the biceps arsenal, so grab an extra plate. And don't forget to crank the volume up a bit before you hit 'play'...

Lunges - When Paul Davis crooned out the original vocals for this Barry Manilow ballad back in 1977, little did he know that nearly thirty years later Belgian duo Danger Hardcore Team (aka "Dance. House. Trance." or "D.H.T.") would transform it into a dance tune that would then become the musical framework for an exercise class. But sure enough, here it is: The BodyPump 62 lunge track, complete with backward-stepping lunges right off the bench. Leave the bar on the floor, folks - it's plenty hard without it.

Shoulders - When the BodyPump 62 Sizzler hinted at the return of a move named after a certain California governor - a move, we might add, that hasn't been seen since the early BodyPump 40's series - it was with obvious anticipation that we spun up this track. The fact that it's a remake of one of our favorite bicep tracks (BodyPump 43, to be exact), only sweetened the deal. To be honest though, we're totally clueless as to who in the world "Motivo" is or why the song is named The Power of Bhangra 2003. But it doesn't matter. The routine works, and in the end that's what matters most.

Abs - Justin. As in, Justin case you didn't get enough on the last release... here he is again. To be sure, this really was/is a big worldwide hit. We're just not big JT fans. That said, we do like the side plank maneuver as a core workout, and this routine serves up plenty of that. Not to mention some nifty leg extensions and a healthy dose of crunches.

Cool Down Stretch - When was the last time track #10 was the highlight of your workout? Eh, wait - let us rephrase that... When was the last time track #10 was the musical highlight of your workout? Believe it or not, Hinder's Lips Of An Angel rocks us more than all other nine tracks combined. Maybe it's the classic rock sound, or just the fact that we've had enough dance music for one session. Whatever the case, this is one track we can sink our teeth into. Pity it comes at the end.

We've been reviewing releases for the last couple years now, and if there's any one thing we don't do is pull punches. Here's our bottom line:

Music - Like we pointed out on the 61 review, a "playable" release to us is one that sounds just as good on the iPod as it does in class. Like most instructors, we spend a lot of time listening to our music, so playability matters. The problem we see with release 62 is that it has less musical variety than those of the recent past, so unless you like the dance-type genres that dominate this release you just might find yourself mixing in some older tracks to keep it interesting. And that's why we've got to lower the boom on this one with a C- for the playlist. Sorry, guys.

Workout Routine - Sooner or later it had to happen. We all know the bar got raised pretty high these last several releases. It's not all bad here - we got our tricep pullovers back, along with our beloved Arnold press and the side plank. Innovative? Not really. It's nice though, and certainly worth at least a C+.

Instructor Video - Instructors who skip right to the masterclass as soon as they pop in the DVD miss an exceptionally well-done introductory sequence by Glen Ostargaard and Susan Tolj. There's a reason this video appears before the masterclass - it's important. If you're an instructor who prides yourself on high-quality technical execution - rather than simply shouting out reams of chorey at your class - then you'll want to set aside an extra 15 minutes or so to take in this virtual goldmine of information. It's easy to watch, too; shot against a white background with minimal props and clear lettering, these instructional videos are light years beyond those of the 40's (and even 50's) series. Excellent work, and well worth a solid A both for content and technical execution (lighting and camera work). As a side note, we particularly like the clothing selections by the presenters this time around - they're more representative of what real-world instructors use than the speedo-type outfits of the past few videos.

And there it is, our review of BodyPump 62. Were we too tough on them, or right on the money? Click the Comments link below and let us know what you think!