August Burns Red
Constellations

August Burns Red: a name that for many may not mean much but for others represents the pinnacle of an entire scene, and jokingly, already boasts an innumerable series of clone bands that were immediately struck by the group's seemingly obsolete proposal. Chief among these are their compatriots, Texas In July, who are apparently not bothered at all by having copied both the sound and the moniker idea (a future group with "June" in the name and the summer Metalcore trio is quickly assembled).

After a respectable debut, that "Thrill Seeker" featuring Adam D. as producer, and a second very successful album but absolutely not up to par in terms of quality, namely "Messengers", here we are in a flash dealing with a third album, called "Constellations", which in my opinion represents the most important piece of their discography. Why? Simple: from a dull Hardcore/Metal band with an exceptional rhythm section but very little imagination in terms of songwriting (which means inconclusive arrangements and a guitar work far too monotonous and on the verge of self-citation), we have arrived at a much more cohesive group, seasoned and aware of their capabilities, and therefore perfectly able to dare (but not too much) from a compositional standpoint. And though the band's obvious flaws remain very much present (many passages are self-serving, and even more episodes go unnoticed or get "bogged down" shortly after, such as "Mariana's Trench"), the record undoubtedly features the best songs the band has written so far, including the deadly "Meddler", "Thirty and Seven", "White Washed", and the exceptional "Crusades" placed at the end of the tracklist. And it is indeed this last piece that embodies all the qualities a band like August Burns Red is capable of manifesting today: technique but not arrogance, splendidly arranged, "heavy" and melodic at the same time, and if we add in a decidedly above-average lyric, we can only define it as a small masterpiece, which bodes well for further improvement in the future.

In summary, "Constellations" may not be a masterpiece that will change the history of the genre, nor an album to buy blindly without a thorough listen first, but I wouldn't be exaggerating by saying it's a pleasant surprise for those few (very few, to be honest) who had noticed some worrying signs of fatigue in the previous album, that "Messengers" so universally praised. Even though slightly overrated, ABR prove to be a real band and not a "breakdown churning machine" as they might have seemed. They're not quite a butterfly yet, but the chrysalis today is distinctly different from what was previously just a lump.