|
| |
|
|
|
Perhaps many of you have noticed the overwhelming swarm of hardcore/metalcore acts flooding the scene right now. It's becoming increasingly ridiculous, as almost all of them sound identical and bring nothing original to the table. They are meshing together and making the genre the most generic and bland of them all. This is why I never even consider reviewing an album of that sort, and why I tend to shun away any band most of my "hardcore" friends throw at me. It's not that I hate the genre, it's just I think everyone should stop trying to imitate Botch and come up with something unique. Few bands manage to do such a thing. If you're going to be part of this genre and not bring anything too new to the table, you damn well be good at what you are doing. So August Burn Red comes into my grasp, the brutality bashing me in the skull rather unrelentlessly...and I am hooked. A breath of fresh air? Not exactly. An enjoyable listen? You betcha.
August Burns Red is a christian metalcore five piece from Pennsylvania. The album is called Thrill Seeker, and rightfully so because this is quite the thrill of a ride. This album comes out blazing with the brutal "Your Suburbia is in Ruins". The opening riff and drums is fast and quite catchy, and then leads into quite an ear shattering breakdown. The whole song is fast paced and in your face, and the riffs are pretty interesting. They aren't too cliche, so that is a plus. The entire album doesn't really let up after that, going into the melodic but heavy "Speech Impediment" and one of the stronger tracks on the album "Endorphins", which shines in it's mid song breakdown featuring some cool chanting.
I will not go much further in terms of track by track, because those don't do an album justice. I will just give you the overall feel and sound of the album. It is typical metalcore, and while many will gripe that it is not exactly anything special, the fail to look into the other aspects of the music. The lyrics are sensational. Obviously they are Christian influenced, but they are very interesting and I really do like what the band stands for. Christian music takes a lot of heat these days because a majority of it does suck, but these guys obviously had enough stature and brutality to open up for the always insane Between the Buried and Me.
The middle of the album does tend to drag a bit, but it's the end that makes this well worth a purchase. The instrumental track "Eve of the End" is very melodic and leads into the strongest and apocalypse influenced track "The Seventh Trumpet". The album loosely focuses a lot on things from the book of Revelations I noticed, and this song is obviously based on the rapture. With lyrics talking about a blood red moon and the stars falling and the end coming. It's the standout track no question. It's epic in proportion to the rest. After he says rather dramatically "I take one last look at the moon and the stars begin to fall..." it goes into five minutes of guitar brutality and then into a melodic yet heavy passage that sticks in my head and continues on for quite awhile. It's my favorite part of the album, as it is actually a progressive song and reminds me a lot of something Messugah would put together. Not something I expected from a band like this at all. I think if they put together a group of songs with epic breakdowns and dramatic endings like this that could potentially put together something quite special.
For what it is,this albums stands its ground in a watered down scene that is quickly losing it's luster. Just rising above the hordes of local metalcore bands that are everywhere and making yourself something alone makes them unique. I think this band has the potential to rise to a rather prominent force in the scene. Only time will tell.
| other reviews of this album |
|
Album Rating: 2.5
I love the brutality of this band, but overall they're not really different from most other hardcore/metalcore bands out there. Good review.
| | |
Hahahaha xAugustxBurnsxRedx
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
I personally find this generic, it is somewhat "brootal". Its heavy for the sake of being heavy. Anways decent review.
| | |
are they anything like Demon Hunter?
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
i was going to write a review for these guys a few weeks ago but never found the time , Very good review , and a very good band , relentlessly heavy and very good
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
I just heard the song "Your Little Suburbia In Ruins" and I must say I actually kinda liked it. Borrowed my friends CD, so far kinda generic, all the songs follow the same pattern which makes it sound all the same.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
WOW! People exist who have heard of this album besides me. My school's dean of admissions actually went to college with some guys from the band (I dont recall who) but he told me about them. This CD utterly kicks ass, this is one of the better debuts ive heard. Their ability to write extremely catchy riffs is awesome, no song sounds the same or is too repetitive (except the instrumental i dont really like it).
Your Little Suburbia is in Ruins is one of my favorite metalcore songs of all time
| | |
Absolutely horrible.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Why is this band currently in the punk section anyway
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Nevermind I was right, ABR's music DOES sound the same after a while.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
isnt that the same case with most bands? ^
| | |
august burns red is awesome. they are certainly NOT 'run-of-the-mill' metalcore. The lyrics are astoundingly amazing. They really dig deep. the drums: cannot be described in mere words. Drummers: if you want someone to tear your ear drums out, go with matt greiner from august burns red. even for that sole purpose!!!
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
He's ok. If a drummer of five years really wanted to play that like him he could. Just some bands call for it, others don't and etc.
| | | Album Rating: 1.0
Great review, terrible band.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
favorite song: Barbarian
This band deserves much more credit than people are giving them. Every song is well crafted around technical leads and punishing breakdowns that are surprisingly memorable. The CD as a whole tends to blend together after a while, but there is never a dull moment. It is simply put a juggernaut of an album.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
yea, i definately agree w/ that...they have a tight rhythm section, sweet guitar riffs, pretty good screams, amazing drums, and very UNBORING songs and structure, in my opinion. its not your average metalcore.
and to cravinov13, not they sound nothing like demon hunter.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
dude, they didnt just randomly come up w/ that name to try to sound cool...
one of the members had a girlfriend named 'August' in high school and she was insane and very crazy. the guy dating her, after awhile, wanted out of the relationship. so he eventually broke up with her and when he did, she went balistic. the guy had a dog, at the time, named ''Redd'', and she actually set the dog or his doghouse on fire because she was mad. at the time they were jamming as a band and as a joke started ''august burns red''. make sense now? know your stuff buddy..
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
pretty sweet eh? you might think..but im pretty sure the dude really liked his dog and he was sad.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
wow, you guys are messed up
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
wow that was a cool story Jordan, pretty damn crazy. I learn something every day.
Great review BTW.
| | | |
|
| |
