August Burns Red - Leveler
Rating
RIYL
Parkway DriveThis or the Apocalypse
36 Crazyfists
Between the Buried and Me
Release Date
06/21/2011
Label
Solid StateTracklist
1. Empire2. Internal Cannon
3. Divisions
4. Cutting the Ties
5. Pangaea
6. Carpe Diem
7. 40 Nights
8. Salt & Light
9. Poor Millionaire
10. 1/16/2011
11. Boys of Fall
12. Leveler
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Growth is the name of the game. It’s as simple as that. Being able to go from one album to the next and exhibit some element of maturity is quite the feat, and one that August Burns Red has been able to conquer with every release dating back to their debut EP Looks Fragile After All. But at what point is the growth going to stop? And when will the young Pennsylvania lads peak in terms of songwriting and structural prowess? Well, in uncertain terms, the answer is “now,” and maybe a little bit of “it already has.” With their newest release, Leveler, due out June 21st via Solid State Records, August Burns Red tries mightily to conjure up some new and exciting elements to keep their music fresh and somewhat innovating.
August Burns Red, even at their weakest, execute metalcore riffs and breakdowns better than most, but what they accomplish with JB Brubaker and Brent Rambler’s guitar riffage and Matt Greiner’s signature drum mastery, they ultimately lack in pure creativity. This rings true with Leveler. The band does dabble with some new styles and successfully throws in some newly acquired learnings. For instance, the Spanish-flared pre-chorus in the song "Internal Cannon," the great slide-guitar bridge in "Carpe Diem," and the sparingly used gang vocals are welcomed surprises. Even some of the newly found vocal approaches used by frontman Jake Luhrs are head-turning. The opening vocal verse of "Divisions" might have listeners thinking of 36 Crazyfists’ vocalist Brock Lindow, which is a compliment for sure. But when looking past the excitement of new ABR material, any fan will recognize that the band seems to rely too heavily on a rehashed Constellations meets Messengers sound.
I’m not that fan that enjoys August Burns Red because of their sheer “scene” awesomeness or their pure ability to “shred,” but instead, because I see a group of young individuals who could thoroughly create something mind blowing with every new album released. They’ve done it once before when they released 2005’s Thrill Seeker, and almost twice more with Messengers and Constellations, but Leveler seems to rest on its laurels in the moments that it should go for the jugular. Is Leveler a terrible record? Not by any stretch of the imagination. I just hold August Burns Red to a higher standard and, ultimately, with only a few excitably fresh moments, Leveler comes off as their most unguided and uninspired release to date.
--Brian Myers
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
LOL @ 36 Crazyfists in the RIYL. That explains it all for me!
Fishers, Indiana
This is the most pessimistic 3.5 I think I've ever read. I am inspired to listen to it just for that reason alone.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Spokane, Washington
it is overly pessimistic, but the record is still a solid release. for some reason i thought it necessary to really drive home why this album isn't a 4 star or better album.
bill, i take it you're not a 36CF fan?
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
Dubuque
Felt the album was very "blah". I don't see myself going back to it anytime soon.
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Spokane, Washington
leaked.
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
Canada
this album is awesome, i dont know what ppl are talking about. so melodic. everything is generic these days, at least it sounds good. some cool new ideas in their music, it is constellations/thrill seeker/messengers. all the best parts
Minnesota
Where's Bill to give his rosy opinion on the band? I'm sure he's taken a chance to listen to the album now that it's leaked...
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Lehigh Valley, PA
Spokane, Washington
fanboy.
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
Lehigh Valley, PA
HA, what makes you think that?!
Minnesota
Definitely solid. I have yet to dislike an August Burns Red album. I'll be listening to this plenty, much to Bill's delight.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Bogotá, Colombia
I really liked reading this blog but lately it's been all about what this guy Bill Lohr has to say and its making Decoy very boring and unprofessional. I just think he's a very angry man.
Sorry for my lame english.
lastfm.es/user/carlosIramirez
Lehigh Valley, PA
Fuckin Bill Lohr...
Kansas
Honestly, Bill, why don't you dig this band?
http://rateyourmusic.com/~benny06
Fishers, Indiana
*slow clap*
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Fishers, Indiana
Okay, just got a listen in-- this is a solid fucking album, and I've never liked ABR. It's definitely a first-listen 3.5 with room to improve. I was gonna agree with Bill after the first song, but I was smitten after Internal Cannon.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Colorado
I am really liking this a lot. As a whole, I think the cd is very good.
Lehigh Valley, PA
They're just a below mediocre metalcore band in my opinion. That's all. There's 100 other bands that do this and do it better...and I'd rather listen to them. I believe the whole "Bill bashing ABR" thing on here has become more of a joke than anything. Everyone knows I don't like them so most of my distaste for them has become exaggerated on this site. Also, I've said this before, I have personal issues with this guys that stems back years ago from playing with them several dozen times... I suppose I've just kept that mentality since then. SORRY GUYS!
Spokane, Washington
and if you're thinking about spending extra on the deluxe edition, save your money.
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
Atascadero, CA
Bill Lohr is the new Rick Gebhardt
Decoymusic.com (CEO/Founder)
Blue Reef Design Studios (Web Development)
http://aarontroy.tumblr.com
Fishers, Indiana
I like the acoustic version of Internal Cannon and the MIDI version of the other song, but yeah, you're right.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Illinois
it's a decent record from them. never been a fan, but i kind of enjoyed this just as much as their last record. some of the songs really stick out, while others are kind of boring.
last.fm/user/tragedyl0ve
twitter.com/1000cleverlines
1000cleverlines.tumblr.com
Spokane, Washington
i went back and listened to Messengers and Thrill Seeker this weekend whilst on a road trip. those two albums are absolute beasts!...and i have a feeling we'll never see that side of this band again, which is really unfortunate.
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
Bronx, New York City
i don't really like metalcore, but i like this, probably because of that fact, not in spite of it. this might be the most derivative dribble ever and i wouldn't really know. then again, i doubt that as most metalcore doesn't do a damn thing for me but this make me happy in my private music places.
the only bands i like that are even remotely like this are We Came As Romans, Sky Eats Airplane and Darkest Hour and i'd put this album u there with the best material from any of them, sans most of Darkest Hour's output, which, in my opinion, is pretty much untouchable.
--FTTW--
Coopersburg, PA
I have yet to get into an ABR album but every time they put one out, I still give it a chance to see what all the hype is about. After hearing the first song or two, I start to like the album, then roughly half way through I start tuning out because every song starts to sound the same - Leveler is no different. I will never get the hype behind this band.