This album is perhaps the largest conglamoration of punk/underground music I've ever heard. I couldn't say whether it is metalcore with a strong emo influence or vice versa. But it is definitely emo, with screamo, and even death metal growls. It is atmospheric, emotional, over the top and difficult to take seriously. I ask myself often if I'm too old to listen to stuff like this. Regardless I like it. Their are probably teenagers out there that would think this album is pure gold. My only real issue is that all the songs are short, as is the whole album, but it doesn't seem to detract from it's overall completeness.

The Human Abstract plays a different variety of metalcore that involves a lot of progressive aspects. It definitely sounds unique, but I get the impression that as much as I like their music, these guys aren't being as original as they could be. They definitely deserve high praises for this effort. I listened to this CD everyday for two weeks after a got it. I continued to enjoy but still can not put my finger on what might be missing. In any case I am definitely looking forward to 2008 release.

Unlike the previous reviewer, this was my first experience with August Burns Red, so I can't compare it to the previous album. Regardless I favor this album for it's sheer ferocity. I'm usually never very captured by drums, but the drummer of this band is phonemonal. Even so, the band in it's entirety stands out for it's level of technical expertise. The constant changes in rhythms and beats keep this from being too repetitive.

Oh, Sleeper has developed what I consider a refreshing metalcore sound. The vocals, which fall more into the category of screaming than growling, give it a more emo sound, and I totally dig the crisp sounding guitar work in this album as opposed to some bands who tend to muddy things up into a single wall of sound. I would almost consider this a concept album since all the lyrics have a battle theme to them. I definitely look forward to their future work.