Protest the Hero - Volition (2013)

Alright folks, my hiatus is over. Time to start reviewing again.

After the rather disappointing "Kezia" and the band's split from their previous label, the future didn't look all that bright for Protest the Hero. Fortunately, they weren't about to slow down and, with the help of their fans, managed to put out what might be their most accessible record to date. Whereas their magnum opus "Fortress" blends technicality and catchiness in relatively equal proportions, "Volition" is seemingly geared towards expanding the band's fan base (as well as pleasing the many generous fans who donated to their fundraising campaign). And yet there's still plenty of technicality helped in no small part by the phenomenal drumming of Chris Adler from Lamb of God who stepped in when the band's previous drummer left. But I think mainly the band was simply interested in having fun while recording "Volition" and this is evident throughout the entire album. It's a bombastic, theatrical affair whose melodrama is concentrated in the voice and lyrics of Rody Walker who gives the best performance of his career here. I will admit that his vocals are a bit excessive at times and that some songs should have more instrumental parts, but that doesn't change my opinion that he sounds great on this album. Songs such as "A Life Embossed" and "Skies" are a testament not only to Rody's phenomenal pipes, but also to the band's knack for stringing along complicated rhythms and melodies into a harmonious, memorable whole. "Volition" may not be on the level of "Fortress" but it undoubtedly a wonderful return to form that gets better with each listen.

8.5/10

 

Misery Signals - Absent Light (2013)

After a rather lengthy wait, one of metalcore's most innovative bands have returned to present another offering filled with ass-kicking, heavy riffs, impressive technicality, and fantastic drumming. Sound-wise, there's not much different compared to the last album but that's perfectly fine because I think any metal band would be proud to have an album as well-written and engaging as Absent Light is. Everything from the grooves to the clean parts to the vocals is top-notch on this album. All the members of the band are incredibly talented musicians and it's clear they took full advantage of their skills here. Besides One of Us is the Killer, this is the best metalcore release I've heard this year. If you have a buddy or family member who's into prog but averse to "core" music then this is definitely the right album to introduce to him/her.
9.5/10

August Burns Red - Rescue and Restore (2013)

Metalcore usually doesn't interest me, and after the painfully average BFMV record of this year I was hesitant to check this out yet the hype and popularity of this band pretty much compelled me to. Fortunately, I can say that this record blows the new one from BFMV clear out of the water. It's a very melodic record though not quite as much as Killswitch Engage usually do things. The songwriting is really tight without an over-reliance on breakdowns or emo lyrics. The vocals are awesome though some cleans might have made for a bit more diversity. The riffs and melodies are really good with the music sometimes bordering on prog and even occasionally featuring classical elements. Besides Disarm the Descent, this is one of the most technically competent mainstream metalcore bands I've heard. In all, it's a very solid record that should change many a metalhead's opinion about metalcore.

9/10

Killswitch Engage - Disarm the Descent (2013)

One of the foremost names in metalcore have returned with old singer Jesse Leach in tow with what may be their most solid offering yet since 2004's "The End of Heartache." Whereas the last two albums disappointed me with excessive amounts of poppiness, the band have made somewhat of a return to the aggression of the first two albums with heavy, complex riffs. Of course, the songs are still plenty catchy and fans of the Howard Jones period should have few qualms with this album. If there's anything that does drag down "Disarm the Descent" it's the sameness that permeates throughout making it hard to identify which songs are standouts ("In Due Time" might be an exception to that.) That said, it's still one of the best metalcore albums I've heard in a while and is a more than worthy addition to the band's discography.
8.5/10

Bullet for My Valentine - Temper Temper (2013)

Though it has its moments, BFMV's latest release is quite forgettable and simply doesn't match up to their three previous albums. That's really all I have to say about this.
6.5/10

Hatebreed - The Divinity of Purpose (2013)

Having never really heard much of this band before I listened to this album, I have to say that I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, there's a lot of good melodeath-sounding riffs and fairly tight songs. On the other hand, some of songs are rather bland, and the cliche "tough-guy" image along with the "tough-guy" lyrics kinda poison the well on this album. That's not to say it's a bad album. It's just my stylistic preference, but if you like it then, hey, that's great.
7.5/10

 

Shadows Fall - Fire From the Sky (2012)

Before listening to this album, I'd only heard a few songs from this band and thought they were decent. After having listened to this album for the first time, I can say that this is a very musically proficient band that knows how to make catchy and surprisingly technical metalcore songs. There's no obnoxious breakdowns as in other "core" bands; just solid, well-written stuff that would probably cause even the most ardent defenders of "tr00" metal to at least respect this band if not headbang along to their songs. This is one of the most inspired metalcore albums I've heard in recent times, and it's made me become a fan of the band.
9/10

 

Mutiny Within - Synchronicity (2013)

This is probably some of the best metalcore I've heard in a while (not that I'm a huge fan of the genre in the first place.) It's not very progressive compared to the band's first album, but if you're looking for straight-ahead, catchy stuff then this album is for you. Some of the songs are fairly samey though which detracts from the album and makes me not want to listen to the whole thing, but the talent here is undeniable. Chris Clancy is an absolutely phenomenal singer and growler. That's the main thing that sets this album apart from the rest. I don't plan on reviewing many more metalcore albums this year (apart from the upcoming Killswitch and Trivium records), but as this album proves there is hope for the genre.
9/10