Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing, to say the least, May 21, 2006
I had heard of this band for quite some time, but never took the time to listen. When I saw that they were going to be on tour with Between the Buried and Me, I figured I would check them out. I heard a few songs online and liked what I heard, but it wasn't until I saw their live set that I truly impressed with them.
In a world where metalcore and hardcore is definitely reigning strong much like the thrash scene of 20 years earlier, it is more than easy to find bands that sound similar, if not exactly alike. This is not the case with August Burns Red. This band absolutely has the metalcore sound (Swedish metal riffs, thrashy parts, heavy breakdowns, etc), but they bring a more technical/progressive feel to their songs. For example, the opening song starts with some explosive drumming and time changes that are much more complex than most metalcore bands I've heard (and I've heard a ton). The drumming definitely stands out more than anything else on this record. Aside from the flawless drumming, both guitarists show that they can not only play their instruments with precision, but write melodies and riffs that flow together.
As far as the breakdowns go, ABR does a good job of incorporating most of them into the structure of the song, rather than stopping before them or doing the all-too-obvious slowdown into them. And these aren't your typical chuga-chug-chug breakdowns either. Instead, many of them are done in changing time signatures, throwing the listener off at times.
Speaking of throwing the listener off, don't expect the typical verse-chorus-verse-breakdown-chorus-breakdown formula that is common with many metalcore bands. ABR frequently changes riffs, rythyms, and speeds without warning, keeping the listener on his/her toes as a result. This makes for a very exciting album to listen to.
Of course, this album has it's shortcomings too. The vocals are done well, but they're nothing incredible, as they have that throaty sound that is all too common in many bands today, metalcore or not. The same applies to the lyrics. From looking at the liner notes and seeing that they're on Solid State, it is obvious that ABR is a Christian band. That's great for them, but the lyrics contain many recurring themes of love, truth, and everything else that has been covered by Christian metalcore bands.
Overall though, if you're growing tired of the same old metalcore sound found in so many bands, then pick up this record. It's still metalcore, no doubt about it, but there's a lot more going on in the music than most other bands. 4 stars.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The musical person's metal, January 12, 2007
I am not a metalhead. I don't dress in black. I don't list GWAR as one of my favorite bands. I am a fan of good music--that is, music that is good by being complicated, different, beautiful, or otherwise adhering to longstanding rules about what good music is laid out by the critics of the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, Bach and so on. The rest of this album's reviews will tell you this is a great album because it's "sweet" or "heavy" or "pumps you up" or the empty quasi-intelligent-sounding moniker "technical". I'm here to tell you that this album is good because the music is good.
All vocals and feeling through listening aside, let's look at the instrumentation. Each song is filled with guitarwork that will leave your head spinning. Instead of relying on the boring drop-D-string pounding with interspersed licks so heavily, ABR's songs are all but driven by complicated riffs the whole song through. How they can play an entire live set filled with songs like this is more than I can comprehend (but I've seen them do it).
The drumming is not the typical double-bass-drum-roll with limited snare and cymbal variety (think As I Lay Dying--which is good, but less complicated). The beats are nothing like anything else. I feel sorry for this drummer's bandmembers trying to figure out how to play with his crazy intricate beats, but I love it. Try to nod your head to any of their songs (those of you who have rythm) and notice that you'll inevitably be off-beat throughout the song because of changing time-signatures!
This album is good not because it gives me something to jump around, kick, scream, and break things to, but because the musicianship is top-of-the-line.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A...................MAZING!!!!!!!!, June 22, 2006
been to 3 ABR concerts.....AMAZING....AMAZING....AMAZING!
nobody sounds like these guys.....the double bass is amazing...the chugs are amazing..new vocalist....stil sounds amazing...really looking forward to hearing some new stuff....
fav songs....ALL OF THEM....but really check out Your Little Suburbia Is In Ruins.....and Speech Impediment...and A Wish Full Of Dreams.....
oh yeah....have i mentioned that they are AMAZING!
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