Staff picks: what we’re listening to

1. August Burns Red‘s Leveler
I reviewed this album when it was released back in June, and honestly I feel like you need more than a week of August Burns Red’s music in order to get the real feel for it. I think the album is fantastic, however after I reviewed it I didn’t listen to it for a long while.  In fact, I started to dislike it and couldn’t really understand the music.  The guys recently announced their upcoming headlining tour, so I took a day to listen to August Burns Red’s entire discography to celebrate and I haven’t been able to stop spinning Levelersince. I know I’m personally biased towards this band, but there’s just something about the quirkiness and difference in their music compared to other metal bands out there that I love.

Go listen to: “Poor Millionare”

2. Miss May I‘s Apologies Are for the Weak
I think the most simple thing here would be this: Apologies Are for the Weak > Monument.  Sorry, kids.  I’m usually not one that likes older albums, but I think AAFTW is far more superior than Monuement. I enjoy the introductions to the songs much more than their newest album which makes for a good setting into songs. The ending of “Not For Tomorrow” is the introduction for “Arms of the Messiah,” which I always enjoy.  I also find that AAFTW is a little less melodic, which I usually I prefer, but the heavy and faster driven riffs make up for it.  Again, this is another band that I’ll be seeing a few weeks, but it’s been on repeat quite often since October.

Go listen to: “Architect”

3. Sleeping With Sirens‘ Let’s Cheer To This
If you don’t secretly sit in your room and scream Sleeping With Sirens at the top of your lungs, I thoroughly believe there’s something wrong with you. Or that you’re lying. There’s something about a high-pitched male voice singing away his love troubles that makes me want to cry every time. I wasn’t really a fan when this album when it first came out (Nick reviewed it upon its release), but it has been growing on me.  I can hear how the band has matured since their debut With Ears to See and Eyes to Hear, and though it may not sound as heavy as I would have liked, I think this is better suited for the band.

Go listen to: “A Trophy Father’s Trophy Son”

4. I, The Breather‘s These Are My Sins
I finally got my hand on this album and while the open strings tend to really bother me a bit during the breakdowns, I think these guys are well on their way to being pretty successful.  I’ve read a lot of opinions from people saying that I, The Breather sounds a little like August Burns Red, and I wouldn’t disagree with that, however I would say that this band operates towards a different audience.  Now, I would agree that ITB sounds a bit like ABR in the sense that ITB plays some pretty off-beat breakdowns.  If you’re into some solid metalcore, this is a good band to check out for your interests.

Go listen to: “The Common Good”

5. For Today‘s Breaker
This band has some heavy words. The lyrics are absolutely intense. Musically this album if the only one by For Today that I’ve been able to get into, and I think it’s in partial to more melodic riffs than their other albums (told you I like melody!). I saw For Today live back in January with We Came As Romans and I think the band is one of the better band I’ve seen seen live in the past few years. OK, and this is also another band I recently saw in the past month, which as you can tell is a running trend of my “what we’re listening to.” I really enjoy Mattie Montgomery’s vocals much more on this album and there are three tracks on the album that are narratives to explain the story, which for me a major plus because I usually don’t like concept albums.

Go listen to: “Phoenix”

6. Fall Out Boy‘s From Under The Cork Tree
I could have placed Take This To Your Grave here as well, but I talk about that album so much I thought I’d give From Under The Cork Tree a little love because I really do love this album as well. Fall Out Boy is just one of those bands that I will forever love because of the timing that the band was in my life and the impact it created on me within music. From Under The Cork Tree has the right amount of experimentation for the band to stay within their original fanbase’s satisfaction.  Patrick Stump’s voice, like always, is full of raw emotion and the lyrics are a touch darker than on Take This To Your Grave. This album also brings me back to the time when everyone had long, stupid song titles on their entire album. And admit it, you still love “Dance, Dance” and bounce around every time you hear it.

Go listen to: “I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me”