August Burns Red
Constellations


3.5
great

Review

by Dave de Sylvia EMERITUS
July 9th, 2009 | 3112 replies


Release Date: 2009 | Tracklist

Review Summary: August Burns Red are creeping out of the incestuous metalcore scene and doing things just a little bit differently.

Sometimes at night I lie awake and wonder: have August Burns Red earned their status as metalcore’s reigning buzz band, or did they inherit it by default? It is true that just about every second-wave act that’s sniffed commercial success (Atreyu, Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold) has unceremoniously ditched the genre, but it is testament to the genre’s enduring popularity that it can continue to churn out bands in the same vein. But where does that leave August Burns Red? Following the release of 2007’s Messengers, it would have been hard to argue that they were doing much to differentiate themselves from the throng, let alone lead it, and they seemed scantily equipped to rejuvenate an increasingly self-cannibalising genre. Constellations is unlikely to usher in a metalcore renaissance, but is a progression- though not entirely progressive- from the formulaic and relatively uninspired Messengers.

Metalcore is a much-maligned genre, sometimes deservedly so, but it’s a problem of saturation and over-exposure rather than an intractable structural fault. The difference between really good music and painfully generic music can just as often be inches as miles, and Constellations is stark proof of this: the differences between this album and the last are few, yet the effect is immeasurably better. For a start, while Constellations is still packed full of breakdowns, they’ve at least allowed themselves to think outside the formula a little bit. On rousing opener ‘Thirty And Seven,’ they tease listeners with a false-start breakdown before launching back into the chorus riff, delaying gratification for a short while (even if the eventual breakdown is disappointing); elsewhere, on tracks like ‘Marianas Trench,’ they weave in guitar parts with the breakdown rather than allowing it to halt the song’s progression entirely; ‘Oceans of Apathy’ and closer ‘Crusades’ drop the intensity entirely and work in bluesy middle eights rather than breaking up the songs with predictable chug-a-lug sections.

As well as these structural improvements, the band members have stepped up their individual performances. Drummer Matt Greiner is the most audibly improved: his newfound sense of adventure is evident at just about every turn on Constellations, from the glitchy blast beats that simmer beneath the surface of ‘Indonesia’ to the tasteful fills with which he eases into ‘Marianas Trench.’ Even if his presence does become a little overbearing on the quieter songs (‘Marianas Trench’ is the exception that proves the rule), it’s good to hear him out of his shell. Likewise, the depth and variety of the guitar lines on Constellations is far in excess of what the group have produced before: particular highlights are the weaving dual-guitar lines of ‘Paradox,’ the tippy-tappy guitar solo that elevates the otherwise generic ‘Existence’ and the lush, doomy chords that open instrumental piece ‘Meridian.’

Vocalist Jake Luhrs doesn’t do an awful lot to distinguish himself- he doesn’t do clean vocals, but as a growler he is more or less intelligible the majority of the time, allowing some insight into the group’s lyrical themes. Much has been made of the group’s Christian faith, however at times on Constellations they seem to fall over themselves to be overtly vague, to the point of saying very little at all. ‘Thirty And Seven’ boasts the awkward line “it’s so much easier to fight this war when you’re the last in line,” and it’s hard to imagine a more awkwardly mixed metaphor than this one, from ‘Oceans Of Apathy’: "Everything true and complete is cut out and cut out and swept under the floorboards / Left to drown [...] in an ocean of apathy." Dying, particularly by drowning, is a common theme throughout much of the album, and the best moments occur when August Burns Red are at their most stark. ‘Marianas Trench’ sees Luhrs imagining himself drowning in the earth’s deepest and most grammatically incorrect ocean trench, while ‘Indonesia’ sees him ponder a challenge to his faith when death comes knocking: "How does a man wrap his mind around eternity when he cannot even explain his own composition? Don't you see it's bigger than you."

There’s another, unfortunate, side to Constellations that reinforces all of the negative stereotypes. Tracks like ‘The Escape Artist,’ ‘Rationalist’ and ‘White Washed’ embody the sort of unimaginative, meathead rock the genre’s become known for, with the latter offering up this gem of a chorus: ”Don't say another word / You've crossed the line / I won't hesitate to put you in your place” Nevertheless, most of the signs point towards a band that are broadening their horizons and striving to shake up any complacency within their sound. Between The Buried And Me vocalist Tommy Rogers provides a bridge vocal to ‘Indonesia’ that is eerily reminiscent of Dirt-era Layne Staley, and it exemplifies neatly just where August Burns Red are at right now: they may not be doing anything new or innovative, but they are creeping out of the closeted, incestuous metalcore scene and doing things just a little differently from everybody else out there.



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user ratings (2943)
3.9
excellent
other reviews of this album
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Comments:Add a Comment 
cirq
July 9th 2009


9362 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

You must love this band

Waior
July 9th 2009


11778 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

This review was unfortunately humbling to read; manages to be both much more and concise and eloquent than mine at the same time. Irritating talent.



Nice to see some staff love (or something like it) for this too.

ScorpionStan
July 9th 2009


1911 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Excellent review. Some awkward phrasing, but nothing too detrimental.



Also in the summary i think you mean creeping out OF the incestuous metalcore scene.

Mordecai.
July 9th 2009


8409 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Good to see you haven't got rusty, you should review more. I still haven't got this yet

Athom
Emeritus
July 9th 2009


17244 Comments


nice review, dave. i agree with this one the most (even though i like messengers)

Klekticist
July 10th 2009


1421 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

wonderful review.

i disagree with your comment on the lyrics "it’s so much easier to fight this war when you’re the last in line" however.



anyway, nice job. :D

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
July 10th 2009


22503 Comments


It's always great to read a Splat review... Now all we need is the other half of the devastating duo to return. Jom, where are you?

IndieOut
July 10th 2009


498 Comments


good review for an even better band. Ocean of apathy's intro bothers me with its similarity to truth of a liar though.

Douglas
July 10th 2009


9303 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Lovely review. Good to see the album getting a positive staff review.

ninjuice
July 10th 2009


6760 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Ocean of apathy's intro bothers me with its similarity to truth of a liar though.


There's not much similarity imo - the notes are a bit similar but Truth of a Liar takes about twice the time to "get going".

Matte
July 10th 2009


600 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I disagree with this review, anything lower than 5 is blasphemy!! neg neg neg!



Seriously though, good review. Very well written, and you make excellent points, unlike some other reviews for this album. 3.5 is an impressive rating coming from a staff member for a metalcore album. *Thumbs up*

cvlts
July 10th 2009


9943 Comments


goddang, right when i thought all the abr talk was done...

Kronzo
July 10th 2009


1303 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Is this better than messengers?

Electric City
July 10th 2009


15756 Comments


lol reading

ninjuice
July 10th 2009


6760 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Is this better than messengers?


Yes, no question.

alachlahol
July 10th 2009


7593 Comments


too many reviews of this album stating the same points over and over

jingledeath
July 10th 2009


7100 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

didn't expect to like this cause Messengers was boring but this is quite solid

blindsided21
July 10th 2009


146 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Excellent review. A small correction though: Indonesia is about a friend of one of the band members who died in a plane crash in Indonesia while doing missionary work.

EasternLight
July 10th 2009


2711 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

should grow...maybe. i want clean vocals. damn. great review.

cjgone
July 11th 2009


828 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Same, some clean vocals would be nice. The guitaring and drumming is very nice. :D



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