August Burns Red
Messengers
By Dave Synyard

An introduction of fervent desire is the note August Burns Red conveys with Messengers. Without a momentary lapse in their hardcore-based, but metal-inspired, follow-up to Thrill Seeker, this five-piece Christ-core band have produced an album up there with label-mates Norma Jean and Zao. From the get go, “Truth of a Liar” demonstrates what ABR do best: ultra-swift technical drumming that injects pace, only to have it drained by back busting breakdowns. Drummer Matt Greiner is the eye of this audio storm in “Composure,” his metal-core percussion undeniably infectious and hypnotic. And where would a hardcore-influenced album be without the standard echoed group chant? ABR do their best to throw a curve ball by differing each track to keep things fresh. “The Eleventh Hour” starts with a sudden drum roll to one of the biggest double bassings of the album, then a tempo change and back to hardcore familiarity. “Back Burner” plays with the most metal roots of Messengers, with angular guitar riffage, squeals and muted chugs. This CD is a lyrical and musical collaboration, proving that five heads are more metal than one. (Solid State)
Red Chord - Prey For Eyes
While the Red Chord’s last offering, Clients, introduced a more thoroughly ironed out writing style, increasingly impenetrable technicality and polished production from Zeus, some of the spontaneity of their landmark debut was lost. Prey For Eyes, while not a regression in any sense of ...Read More
Apostolum - Anedonia
Apostolum - Anedonia
Architects - Ruin
Birdflesh - Mondo Musicale
Botch - American Nervoso
Callisto - Noir
Candlemass - King of the Grey Islands
Chevelle - Vena Sera
Child Abuse - Child Abuse
Darkest Hour - Deliver Us
Dekapitator - The Storm Before the Calm
Dischord - Siege of Darkness
Entombed - Serpent Saints
Entombed - Serpent Saints
Godless Rising - Battle Lords
Gojira - The Link
Graf Orlock - Destination Time Tomorrow
Hidden Hand - The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote
Illogicist - The Insight Eye
Irepress - Samus Octology
Memfis - The Wind-Up
Minor Times - Summer of Wolves
Nile - Ithyphallic
Nile - Ithyphallic
Nora - Save Yourself
Nuclear Blast Allstars - Into The Light
Number Twelve Looks Like You - Mongrel
Oxbow - The Narcotic Story
Rose Funeral - Crucify Kill Rot
Rue The Day - The Machine
Samael - Solar Soul
Spheric Universe Experience - Anima
SSS - SSS
SSS - SSS
To The Lions - Baptism of Fire
The Truckers - Get Rich or Drive Trying
Vengeful - Karma
Visions of Atlantis - Trinity
Misstress Barbara - Montreal, QC November 21
One of this city’s superstar DJs, Misstress Barbara specializes in big beats for the masses, and with her three-piece band Girls on a Ducati, she’s extending her house pop chops to a more traditional live setting. With a guitar and mic, as well as keys and effects, she’s a capable front-woman but he... Full Review
Transit / Man Overboard - Transit / Man Overboard
The deliberately lo-fi, yet earnest, split between Transit and Man Overboard sounds like the product of a bunch of friends growing up on punk and hardcore throughout the '90s. The hardcore leanings of Boston fivesome Transit lay the groundwork for the pop punk tendencies of the Jersey kids in Man Ov... Full Review
Crazy Heart Dir. by Scott Cooper
Crazy Heart, in which Jeff Bridges adds another career achievement notch on his belt as a down-to-his-last-drink country singer, might be more difficult to watch for musicians than for average moviegoers.

Bad Blake (Bridges), who's on the wrong side of 50, is hauling his truck ... Full Review
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