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AUGUST BURNS RED: STILL A THING

 Monday, June 13th, 2011 at 4:30pm by

I continue to be baffled by the ongoing popularity of August Burns Red. The band has a new album called Leveler coming out later this summer, and I keep getting press releases about new songs, and I keep trying to listen to those new songs, and I keep having to turn those news songs off after a little bit because if I wanted to be that annoyed I’d just just give myself a paper cut.

And I actually kind of enjoyed roughly the first twenty-five seconds of the latest of these new songs, “Poor Millionaire” (streaming below). That’s a little bit because I dig the riff and a lotta bit because this section is dominated by drummer Matt Greiner, who is a beast, and pretty much the only good thing about ABR. But then the tune devolves into the same generic metalcore schlock this band always churns out, and my interest goes the way of Crazy Town’s career.

Am I missing something? Is there some aspect of this music that’s totally fucking great? Please, someone who likes this band, explain it to me. I just can’t for the life of me figure out what’s appealing about this drek.

Leveler comes out June 21 on Solid State. It was produced by Jason Suecof, so at least it will sound great.

-AR

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  • Tim

    I entirely don’t understand the appeal of this band either. Their repetition and unoriginality is blatant and annoying.

    • turds

      well, if you’re not into metalcore, you’re not into it.

      To me they are just great riffers and breakdown artists. If you’re into shit like that, and don’t try to think too hard about what you are listening to, you can get pumped on them.

      • http://www.heavymetal.co.nz heavymetalnz

        i listen to tons of metalcore, and this just doesnt live up to ANY of their previous tracks. Its all predictable and boring as fuck.

        I’m gonna go listen to Backburner and Marianas Trench and remember the good ol days where their shit actually WOW’d you

        • twistedfreak

          Fucking spot on mate.

        • the_dglgmut13

          Could not have agreed with you more. I’m really hoping this is just a demo, or a pre-mastered version because it has none of the punch that their songs used to have.

        • Major Zim

          dude constellations sucked SOOO bad. The album never excited me at all. They had no passion. i was a HUGE ABR fan when it came out but it just wasnt good. i liked this waaaay better than that whole album. Nothings as good as messengers was but at least this is heading the right direction. he actually has some emotion in his voice and theres finally intensity again. White-Washed was pretty damn good but it couldnt redeem that pile of apathy.

          • james

            I agree with both you guys. While I dont think that Constellations sucked, the idea apparently was to sound more real, but by doing so they added some suck. Its not tight and punchy. I try to imagine a more real less drum replaced messengers-but it doesnt work. The sound is too much mud for this music.
            I think for that leveler the sound is the same and the songs just kinda stunk. They didnt try anything new and stuck to the exact formula of the last album

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Carson-Wilcox/1581481001 Carson Wilcox

    i dunno, i consider abr to be a step above most metalcore, but they’re still just decent. but you’re absolutely right, matt greiner is the best thing about this band, although his crazy rabid fanbase often has him pegged out to be better than blake richardson, navene koperweis, matt halpern, and other really sick young metal drummers that i can’t put him above.

    • fatpuppy

      I have yet to see anyone peg him that…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

    yup, that’s august burns red alright. and no, i dont see the appeal of them unless someone’s just gettin into harder stuff. i know when i was green in the metal dept. seeing the human abstract the first time, their energy made me run straight to the pit. especially since i was like, “who the fuck are these american eagle tools?”

    id at least give em cred for keeping their clean cut image when most core bands look so downright ridiculous. however, id venture to say dressing like a prep is a bigger douche move than lookin like the dude from suffokate? is that a valid statement? its hard for me to decide.

    • CreptorStatus

      Who seriously cares what a band looks like? What are you? 14?

      • Krang10

        Seriously. Vince Decker, you are kind of a douche I’ve noticed. You give them cred for their keeping their clean cut image? Well thank god, I am sure the band is fucking amped about that.

        “id venture to say dressing like a prep is a bigger douche move than lookin like the dude from suffokate? is that a valid statement? its hard for me to decide.” A valid statement? Well since you are asking, no it is not, and when your daughter you are holding can read she is going to be ashamed at how dumb her dad is.

        On the music note…ABR are a band who were doing their own thing when they were coming up but there has been a lack of evolution that I find frustrating, especially since they are obviously talented guys. Their sound became more polished but that seems to be about the extent of it.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Connor-Couzens/580622274 Connor Couzens

          +10000000000
          Douche indeed.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

          just saying its cool they didnt change themselves. its still a toolish move. are you mad?

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

            and as far as image goes, it is moot. you guys misunderstood my comment. i was making a note of their appearance because when i was new to metal i didnt expect a metal band to look like that. i had a more stereotypical view of what a metal band should look like. today, i enjoy that bands do not care about their image. the bands i like look like NORMAL FUCKING PEOPLE. get off my nuts, why do you care so much about what i said?

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

            *that is the metal bands dont care about their image*

            id say this band does care about their image. is it more of a douche move to appeal to a suburban audience with their looks or the more scenster audience with a suffokate look? im obviously calling both sides out here, and you are fucking morons for not understanding my comment then band wagoning on someones nuts like you always do.

          • logdeezy

            Everyone on MetalSucks thinks they’re experts. Ignore any long, drawn out, repetitive, “I put way too much time into an argumentative comment on the internet” comments. Chances are for every person that responds negatively towards your comment, there are 5 people who agree with you but do not care to throw in their 2 cents.

            And on that note, I agree the “prep” look for metal bands is quite douchey. I’d like to think the people who make the music I like are nothing like these guys….

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fad6eZTDikA

          • Aether Jake

            So by default, Behemoth sucks because they have a look?

            News flash, every band has a look. “clean cut” is a look. If one of the members of THA went up to the other guys and was like “hey today I think I’m going to wear corpse paint”, they would laugh at him and not let him do it.

            That said, THA is a good band.

  • Android

    I enjoyed Messengers. I really don’t have much respect for ABR since they are the stereotypical Christian metalcore band though. Definitely agree with everyone above.

  • Jewers

    They have a few choice cuts I enjoy from time to time but that’s about it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Ashlock/1300561574 Christopher Ashlock

    lol, music-fail!

  • El Wray

    They need to find a producer who can reign them in. They seem to have some good, ambitious ideas, and seem relatively skilled at their instruments. Their songwriting is just all over the place. You can’t just string together 20 cool riffs and call it a song. It’s as if the song becomes unraveled because there is no musical theme tying it together. It’s all kind of a mess.

    • Guimaj1435

      That was a very well thought out and rational comment. You get a gold star.

  • John

    I would think the cover is in poor taste after the recent tornadoes in Joplin…

    • Krang10

      Are you serious? I am pretty sure there are tornadoes every single year that do that to houses. Apparently this was the first year you actually decided to read the news.

      • John

        Doesnt make it any better to have that cover, you jack rabbit. here’s hoping your house looks like that soon enough

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nick-Spanish/1589212723 Nick Spanish

          your a fucking moron. so japan got hit with a tsunami are albums with waves no longer allowed? also do you think a bunch of christians conspired to piss everyone off? “hey man, remember when the southern part of the U.S. got all fucked up from those tornadoes? we should poke fun and make our album cover look like a house that got hit by one!” also,(and this is the last also) who the fuck calls some one a jack rabbit.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nick-Spanish/1589212723 Nick Spanish

            the album is called leveler and there is leveled house,you fucking moron

          • John

            Hey dumbshit, first things first there isnt a God.

            2nd Im born and raised in NY/NJ and if a couple weeks after the September 11th tragedies someone came out with an album cover of a burning office building, i would be pretty pissed off.

            So go back to being a queer you fucking jack rabbit!

          • boazhimself

            hey asshole, Joplin is in Missouri. We’re a part of the Midwest.

            learn geography, i promise its not that hard.

  • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/34cecaeb05a388c2cc3c5252fb5dc12f.png Mister Yammo

    eh they are standard if anything

    • http://www.thefeej.com leroydragon

      you like new Morbid Angel.

      This must be fucking awesome then right?

  • Sigivald

    Ongoing popularity?

    I must be (happily) out of touch, because I’ve never even heard their name before.

    • http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com Alkahest

      You are EXTREMELY out of touch.

  • rey

    By no means am I a fan of this band, but they are easier on the ears than countless other bands you obsess over on this site.

    I respect them much more than the shitty deathcore bands that get full banner advertisements and whose tours you constantly sponsor.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Thomas-Leo-Braund/707525448 Thomas Leo Braund

    i like em but then i like a lot of bands that are generally disliked on here so no change there then.

  • Matt

    One time I was at a show that had them on the bill. I think Evergreen terrace played before them and then promptly after was ABR. All of a sudden a TON of pop collar douche bags and frat mattress bitches walk in the show. They watch ABR play and immediately leave afterwards. The band is like a walking Abercrombie and fitch ad.

    So in short, ABR=Crombie-Core

    The drummer is a beast though.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

      another man who agrees with me. geez the people i pissed off must be abr fans. i think there is a relevant difference between businessmen who play instruments, and actual musicians, who are artists. this band i consider as being businessmen with instruments, much like any other band heavy on their appearance (appearance is important for marketing, which these bands know). there is no room for appearance in metal, and when someone makes it about appearance, they become a joke. no artistic integrity. sure their appearance has integrity, which i jokingly (mind you) gave abr props for maintaining.

      • Matt

        Ok, put them in slayer shirts and they still play generic metal-core. The drummer is the only thing worthwhile in this band…..How about that?

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

          no matter what they wear the drummer is good for sure.

  • ixrxthethorn

    I agree that there’s literally nothing interesting this band offers, yet they get exponentially more popular by the day it seems. I find their sound annoying and repetitive, and they lack basically the entire concept of artistic progression and evolution. I couldn’t tell the past 2 albums and the new songs from this album apart. If I was played a song from any of these records I couldn’t tell you which album each track belonged to.

    • KC

      I hope you’re referring to Leveler and Constellations as “the last two albums” because if you’re comparing Messengers and Constellations and can’t tell them apart you may need to get your ears checked. The production values alone are in stark contrast to each other.

      I find the dislike for ABR to be somewhat confusing since this site gushes over Periphery, who also play pretty generic metalcore. If you try to argue that its “djent” instead of metalcore get the fuck out of here because djent is fucking metalcore. Its polyrhythmns combined with euro styled riffs with a mixture of clean and screaming vocals. Sounds like metalcore to me. Not that I think ABR are amazing by any stretch, but they are better than average I’d say. I liked Messengers because it got me pumped up when I worked out, other than that I have no real use for them though. They put on a decent show when I saw them live with some friends of mine.

  • CreptorStatus

    For the genre of metalcore, their THE band. And yes their drummer is really fucking awesome at what he does. Took me awhile to get into them because I thought all their songs sounded the same but eventually the stuff grew on me. I can definitely see how people think their generic though.

    • some douche

      their THE metalcore band? not at all dude, maybe in pennsylvania. im not a metalcore encyclopedia but unearth’s earlier records would have something to say about that, basically takes a big runny shit all over august burns reds entire career

      • jdominguez

        +over9000.
        Like Vince said, the only redeeming quality of ABR is Matt Greiner (the drummer).

  • Benito

    They put on a great live show, and are excellent musicians.

    And yes, its METALCORE, they’ve been one of the pioneering metalcore groups since the early 2000′s. you know, that strange era when metalcore was everywhere.

    So…..they sound exactly like they did in 2003. big deal. that genre couldnt progress anywhere anyway. let them exist in their time rift.

  • M’Kay

    You need us to explain it to you, just look at the “in-song-comments” that accompany the video…and you will see how “sick” it is.

  • Mike

    What does it matter how they dress? They don’t want to look like dumbasses and that’s an issue? Metal is not about how you dress. The first time I saw Abr they were opening for BTBAM back in 2005 and I had never heard of them but then they got on stage and wrecked shit! Awesome live show.

  • lucifer

    @ benito, if you think metalcore hasn’t progressed since, then i seriously urge you to go and listen to some more bands, e.g misery signals, ion dissonance, johnny truant…

  • Epyon396

    That looks like a dildo on the roof :/

    • Alex

      LOL yeah WTF is that?

  • EarthIsGay

    Epic breakdowns that are fun to nod your head too. That’s what I like about them.

  • Brian

    I want to know why everybody here hates on this band. I think their fucking great. Thrillseeker and Messengers are awesome albums. But, if you are not a fan of breakdowns and metalcore, you aren’t going to like them. They just as talented, if not more talented, than some other bands mentioned on this site.

    So if its not your thing fine. But as far as metalcore goes, You don’t get too much better, IMO. They also kill live.

    • wmr

      I agree, and I honestly don’t even see why this was posted on the website? Only to incite a flame war?

  • Roast Geef

    “dominated by drummer Matt Greiner, who is a beast, and pretty much the only good thing about ABR.”

    Yep. I’ll occasionally throw them on for a generic-metalcore jam, but it all boils down to the drummer. That said, I only have the first record… pretty much all I need.

    • Murf

      Seriously, his drumming is the best in the first record. Every record since then has been just breakdown-ridden simple beats that go along with the guitars. He was so much more aggressive in Thrill Seeker than any other album they’ve put out. It’s sad, because I used to like them. Now they’re kinda shitty.

  • MoonSnake

    Ehhhhhh aside from their over-indulgence in a few metal cliches, these guys aren’t really all that bad. There are plenty of musical acts in the world that are wayyy worse than these dudes that are more popular and are making more money.

  • John

    Matt is my favorite drummer right behind Ben Koller from Converge. Both of them fucking jam so hard.

    As for August Burns Red, they pretty invented this whole Sumerian-core thing. They were doing “techy” breakdowns and weird time signatures at the same time the dudes in Born Of Osiris and Veil Of Maya were cutting themselves to Korn.

    Basically, August Burns Red invented the style that Born Of Osiris, Veil Of Maya, Elitist, and countless other bands are getting famous for. And they do it better.

    And don’t argue the Meshuggah thing, because I’m pretty sure Veil Of Maya got their shitty melodic riffs from ABR, not Meshuggah.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Geoffrey-Hays/100001712105502 Geoffrey Hays

    such a good band every album is filled with amazing guitars that go together perfectly, good fast drumming and badass vocals. on a plus there lyrics are really good to. i don’t se how this site can like bands like jungle rot which sound like noise and not like good metalcore. but its all opinion and what you grew up with i guess. I grew up with korn.

  • This dude

    August burns red invented the whole sumarian core thing? Ha ha i think not my friend. Try again. ABR hasnt invented shit. “techy” breakdowns have been around for a long time junior.

    • John

      Way to not even get the point youngster.

  • Cpt. Howdy

    Something people seem to have forgotten: They are a Christian band, which means people who aren’t Christian will listen to them. They don’t have to work like other bands, or write decent songs to get noticed, just pray on stage once and get a main stage slot on Warped.
    They also had Adam D as a producer. I like his work, personally.

    • Cpt. Howdy

      May I correct myself by saying “They are a christian band, which means people who aren’t METALHEADS will listen to them.”

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Geoffrey-Hays/100001712105502 Geoffrey Hays

        i will listen to this band on a shuffle with GOAT WHORE so this band can carry its own they are amazing musicians i would not even bring Christian into it because i give every music a chance. and to be honest christian still find this devil music.

        • Cpt. Howdy

          Touche’, but ya’ll get what I meant, right?

    • John

      Or, if you’re a secular band, you just have to write one decent breakdown and an album of filler, and do no actual work.

      • Cpt. Howdy

        That won’t get you a spot on Warped Tour, although Suicide SIlence rode that gravy train straight onto Mayhem.

    • bob

      There is a market for Christian metalheads. However the way you put it makes you seem really angsty and butthurt. It’s a hard band to get into, the drummer is pretty darn good. However I don’t think this band is worth buying merch/records.

      • Cpt. Howdy

        Honestly, I apologize for being angsty/buttheart, but I am a little sick of the christian+metal=success. Some of those bands are really good: Living Sacrifice and As I Lay Dying come to mind, but a lot of them are riding a gravy train. Time is a decent equalizer, and these guys have been around for a while. So…I don’t know, if people genuinely like them, more power to ‘em, I guess. It beats hell out of Three Days Grace.

    • Alex

      Yeah its total bull shit, a lot of these christian metal bands get HUGE sums of money in support from their local church, and then theres a huge christian metal scene where its not about how good the music is, its about how hard you pray, and give to god, and whatever (who gives a fuck). however ABR dont seem to shove their religion in your face, which is pretty cool

  • Gangster as fuck

    They’re one of those “one good track per album” bands. The rest of it just makes you want to hear that good song again.

    • Kid Gruesome

      I was trying to think of a good opinion of these guys, but man you nailed it with that statement. Aces.

  • Johnny

    First two albums are amazing, third album is good (Jason Suecof is a great producer but he is NOT the right guy to produce this band) and this new album is going to be lame.

  • Lucifersmile

    Fuck christXcore

  • Spencerggthang

    I have to say this to John. I’m from Joplin, and abr had that album cover ready before the storm. I think it’s pretty cool.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Steve-Bowen/502176360 Steve Bowen

    messengers and their self titled were great albums, everything they have done since then is terrible

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ian-Wilmot/1177765489 Ian Wilmot

      self titled meaning the ep?

  • Amazing

    I dig when band members match and wear scene-appropriate clothing. That’s showmanship. With that said, if you’re music sucks than I can easily walk out, enjoy a beer in the open air and come back for the rest of the show. Showmanship<musicianship!

  • Sam

    I agree, most of their shit sounds the same. I just got Constellations and am trying to get into it. But there are only a few moments that peak my interest. The rest just sounds like the same generic stuff.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Patrick-Bell/100000194349639 Patrick Bell

    LOVE the drumming.

  • Tired of Caring

    No originality here, and dont really get the whole metalcore thing anyway.

  • JP

    Vince, I think you nailed it. They were the first “metal” band I got into as well. After growing up listening to Godsmack and Korn (I know I know) they sounded like the heaviest, most intense thing ever. Now that I’m a more experienced listener I can’t really enjoy them anymore, but I’ll always be thankful they provided a gateway to the heavier side of music.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

      thanks man! i was thinking maybe i was not expressing my thoughts how i wanted to due to the negative comments i generated above. i made sarcastic jokes about image, and some metal heads proved again they have no sense of humor. i grew up listening to godsmack and korn too, man, nothing to be ashamed of! that was the heaviest stuff i knew of at the time

      • some douche

        pantera? supultura? soulfly? haha nah its cool everyone starts with the shitty shit

  • Sam H

    Their first two albums were awesome due to the actual agression in the music, just listen to Backburner. Also it was slgithly refreshing to hear breakdowns that weren’t slooooooooooowwwwweeddd down for the sake of trying to be heavy.

    This and constellations seems a bit too cleanly produced, and with the little experimentations BTBAM style in Internal Cannon I guess they are trying to fill the gap left by the lack of agression with interesting ideas, shame they still come off a bit bland, I really enjoyed them live though.

  • ferris

    It’s not compressed enough.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Eirik-Kjs-Usterud/1067091137 Eirik Kjøs Usterud

    Meh, they’re not bad, but not really good either. It’s solid ATG-worshipping, breakdown-heavy metalcore – nothing more, nothing less. Really, the only metalcore bands I actively dislike are the ones with prominent emo elements.

  • Todd

    I only started listening to these guys during Constellations. They are good at what they do, I dont pay any mind to the message. Just like when I listen to death meatal or black metal, what they preach is just as much as a joke as the christian bands. I just dig the music!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

      what?! i would argue otherwise. go read some obscura, faceless or decrepit birth lyrics. some crazy metaphysical shit going on there! same with between the buried and me. heres one of my fav quotes from btbam: “it all makes sense; we’re capable of beauty. through sounds which make one cringe.” i used that line on my last college paper in my history of plato class to actually refute a claim socrates makes in the republic. yes, i wrote a paper about death metal and the ancient greeks. yes, it received an A ;) give some more serious dm bands lyrics’ a chance sometime!!

      • Alex

        ugh.. i think hes referring to a lot of the other death core bands that just sing about generic death shit. NOT BTBAM

      • John

        You got an “A” on your history paper, yet you get an “F” on life because you are unemployed.

        • Cpt. Howdy

          Wanna talk about it?

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

            its tough in colorado, what can i say. and why the fuck is everyone so serious?!?! i come here to laugh and see whats new in the metal world. as u mentioned, im unemployed, but i guarantee i enjoy life waaaay the fuck more than you John. and for that, you get an f in life. and for the record, it was a philosophy class. i hate history.

  • Shawn

    I don’t mind these guys. They are the best go-to band when what you’re after is generic metalcore with solid riffs and lots of energy. Not something I’m looking for often, but ABR hits the spot when I am.

    Definitely very little musical merit here though, for sure.

  • uLy

    This is metal for little kids.

  • Sergeant D

    Im a metalcore fan, but im with axl on this one- never understood what makes them any better than all the other bands who sound pretty much exactly the same?

  • http://facebook.com/frosiff Joe Ahmad

    I’ve been a fan of ABR since Messengers. I’ve seen them twice. I’ve had merch that is no longer in commission. Now, they have the capability to bring something incredible to metalcore. However, I will agree that most of their music sounds the same after a while. Breakdowns galore.

    I still like what they do though. They put a lot of energy into what they do on stage. They were one of the first bands I ever saw (along with other metalcore bands) and they just make music I can dig, even if it does sound repetitious. The bass player is actually pretty skilled as well, and I like what he did with Messengers a lot. The drummer is the most skilled one out of the whole band though.

    In short, ABR, although repetitive, makes music for people to throw down to, really. They don’t shove the fact they are a Christian band down people’s throats, and I think that’s another reason why people like them. Everyone has their own opinions about bands. I happen to dig ABR and the music they put out, although only a few tracks off Constellations caught my attention. Good music to nod my head to and to mosh to when live.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Locnar-Mage/100000329324871 Locnar Mage

    I constantly butt heads with my friend over this band. He thinks these guys are awesome and I absolutely hate them. I try my hardest to be open minded but their songs just all sound the same to me. I never even heard of a breakdown before until this band came along. Once you heard one song you heard them all. Each song has the same formula that I’ve heard. They play a lot of single notes fast, sometimes harmonizing and then they do these so called “breakdowns.” I might just to proof a point take a bunch of ABR songs and mix and match them together and make a new ABR song. I hate the name too. They could be called January Burns Red or any month of the year. Their music is boring for the most part. Generic. Repetitive. I told my friend they do have some good riffs but none of their songs are good from start to finish. I guess I hate solo guitar parts being used for rhythm guitar. I have no idea why they are popular. It’s crap.

    • alex

      lol you had never heard of a breakdown?

  • Blut

    Just listen to Slaughter of the Soul, it has all of the good elements of modern melodic metalcore without all of the annoying ones :p

  • Major Zim

    I will now explain why people like this band. There are 3 reasons. 1) They are an asshole warped tour douche who likes whats cool to like. 2) They are just getting into real metal and havent acquired a better taste yet. 3) Matt Greiner, nuff said. When all i knew was KSE and A7X the albums Messengers blew me away. I’m a drummer, the first time i heard a breakdown i was lucky enough to hear it from Matt and crew on one of arguably their best songs (Back Burner) and i was completely blown away. 5 years ago these guys were fucking amazing. Now i listen to BTBAM, Behemoth, Opeth you name it, but these guys were my transition band into bands that screamed 100% and really opened the doors to more technical music to me. For that i’ll always like them no matter how annoying their die-hards are.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Geoffrey-Hays/100001712105502 Geoffrey Hays

    constellations is an amazing guitar album with hugh breakdowns and good vocals maybe metalcore is a guitarist genre because i wish i could make stuff up like that.

    its goes from break down to amazing groove riff and so on . they remind me of unearth.

    I really want to know a band that sounds like this band nothing even compare right now they have that technical part with A FUCKIN MELDOY to it i am so sick of bands like obsucra and suicide silence that have no melody in the guitars and no rhythm

    I get the appeal of technical but i look for groove and and stuff that sounds beautiful and this band does it 10 fold.

    • ixrxthethorn

      From my experience metalcore is a drummer’s genre. For the most part playing breakdowns on guitar is annoying, and rhythms like that are the reason a drummer exists. Also playing rhythmic sections that are just a palm muted open note for 2 minutes is fucking annoying to play and listen to.
      And btw the whole reason Obscura are a big deal is that they ARE melodic in their technicality. Everything is based on scales with them. Not to mention if you want riffs like this band there are literally thousands of other bands who have the same style and sound, hence the entire comment section arguing about why they are popular: because they stand out in popularity even though they sound just like thousand of other bands.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jordan-Munson/1824535 Jordan Munson

    I can’t really say for sure what it is I like most about these guys. I’ve been a pretty big fan since like ’06. I wasn’t crazy over Constellations, but I really love Messengers. It’s one of my most listened to albums.

    I really appreciate their riffs and super high energy. Though it’s not groundbreaking, it’s still really fun to listen to IMO. I’d compare it to the same reason people like re-thrash. It’s pretty generic and not even remotely groundbreaking most of the time, but it knows what it is all about and nails it. ABR probably get that they’re not really doing anything revolutionary, they’re just really good at putting the pieces together. The Matt Greiner factor is what puts them ahead of nearly every other generic -core band out there. He knows how to spice up otherwise boring parts with cymbal use and other slight nuances in his playing.

    All around great execution, and that’s really what it’s about if you’re not doing something new. But, if you inherently don’t really enjoy the type of things that they do, there’s not really much hope for you. Strangely enough, these guys are just about the only “boring” -core band that I really care about.

    Hopes for Leveler are not all that high. At the very least, I hope it’s better than Constellations. My hopes of another Messengers-like record are quickly fading.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-Davis/100000483140420 Daniel Davis

    They really are good compared to a lot of other core bands. Have you ever tried to listen to Texas In July? Terrible shit.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Martin-Polder/100000138911457 Martin Polder

    This is really the best straight up metalcore band around. One of my personal favorites, but hey each to his own..

  • Fred Durst

    As somebody almost exculsivley into the more old school metal styles, thrash, death doom, black and whatnot, I think that ABR is one of the best metalcore bands. They use solid riffs, don’t rely too much on breakdowns, lack those awful emo whining clean vocals which often ruin otherwise good bands(like Trivium) and are just an enjoyable band to listen to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Troy-Rickard/1516566408 Troy Rickard

    Thrillseeker was pretty cool when it came out, I even listen to it every few months now. I tried to like Messengers but I just couldn’t get past the new vocalist, although I did like “The Truth Of A Liar” a lot, rest of the album is boring. I heard one song off of Constellations and lost interest in them as a band.

  • Joeyjaspers

    Well I read a couple of the below comments… Apparently people who like these guys think they’re “technical” and love generic breakdowns. Someone also said trivium? And as I lay Dying? The most impressive thing about these bands is that they can rewrite the same song and still make a living.