Like Deathcore with a hint of melody? Dig bruising breakdowns? Enjoy Through the Eyes of the Dead, Job For Cowboy, All Shall Perish, Antagony, The Classic Struggle, Embrace the End, Winds of Plague and Iscariot?

Get this CD.

I could leave my review at that and honestly feel that the correct audience is indeed going to check this solid debut out and the genre haters will steer clear of it, but I feel little more obligated to expand, though it will seem like a simple rehash of reviews from the above bands.

Though admittedly California’s ABRB present the short haired, tight shirt and pants image that most metal heads despise and this album is rife with clichés (acoustic number, gang chants, Euro melodies, huge grooves, dual vocals, Zach Ohren production, etc) this effort is surprisingly solid and for the genre, is certainly one of the better efforts; not a bad feat considering the saturation deathcore has been subjected to, and I found myself giving each track repeated listens.

I wont bore you with a track by track breakdown, as the formula (except for acoustic segue “Pouring Reign”) is pretty much the standard, blast, gallop, thunderous breakdown approach, but its is done exceptionally well. That being said, “My Fears Have Become My Phobias”, “Legends Never Die”, “Strife (Chug Chug)” and “In Dying Days” offered up the albums most satisfying slabs of slammariffic competence. Also, the Darkest Hour and The Black Dahlia Murder influenced speedier, melodic parts (“Brighter Side of Suffering”, “Beneath the Surface”, “Beautiful Mistake”) that break up the breakdowns are more than acceptable, showing the band has certainly done their homework.

Hardly groundbreaking, and I am sure most of you are sick of this ‘kids’ stuff, but those of you like me, who happen to enjoy it, should definitely check this lot out.

[Visit the band's website]

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