August Burns Red is back with their sophomore album on Solid State Records “Messengers” and this sounds more solid than the previous “Thrill Seeker”, which was a very heavy metal disc influenced by the likes of Metallica and Slayer.

The new album is more progressive, influenced by the modern post-hardcore sound of bands like Botch and Fear Before The March Of Flames: the new songs sound so tight, fast and compact that it’s hard to label them. Such tunes as “Up Against the Ropes” and “The Truth Of A Liar” present heavy guitars, a real clear drumming and screaming vocals that alternate to a more melodic and sweet sound.

The production of “Messengers” (due to Tue Madsen of Extol, The Haunted and Becoming The Archetype fame) is intense and very precise, with everything put in the right place, and gives the record new life.

Recommended if you like good metal influenced music.

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