Review Summary: Generic in every aspect, with a few rays of hope that shine through.
Upon A Burning Body is a deathcore band hailing from San Antonio, Texas. And if you know anything about them at all, you know that they are extremely proud of their heritage and the state of Texas that they grew up in. Obviously they wouldn't have named their second full-length
"Red. White. Green." if they weren't proud.
UABB have taken their second-attempt at music-making and have basically refused to improve at all. What marred
"This World Is Ours" still plagues this album. You'll find competent musicians, and some decent song structure - but you'll also find that cohesively it isn't anything close to special (Sumerian is notorious for having artists like this). What really destroys this album is from a lyrical standpoint. It's hard to tell if Danny at times is being serious or not with what he writes. "Because life sucks and then you die" isn't exactly a unique line, and these cliche lyrics are found scattered throughout the album.
With that being said, if you take the time to digest this album in it's entirety, it's a fun ride from start to finish. It's obvious that while UABB may not be the most talented band out there, they certainly know how to work well off of one another. Tracks like
'Desperado' and
'The Island of Lost Dreams' help to break up the monotony of the album, but again don't expect to be blown away. As it is 2012 now, most of us have spoiled ourselves in 2011 with the wave of fantastic releases in every genre.
Production-wise, the album is solid. Most Sumerian albums always sound at the very least acceptable. As standard, the bass is inaudible for the large majority of the album. The drums and guitars however are very clear and crisp, and Danny's vocals are mixed to where they are audible enough to understand, but they don't take away from the instruments.
All in all,
"Red. White. Green." is an average album. There are some cool ideas at play, but long-time metal fans will find that this release just isn't up to par for this day and age of music.
Recommended Tracks:
"Desperado"
"The Island of Lost Dreams"
"Mimic"
