August Burns Red "LEVELER"

I think the lyrics in the first verse say it best “Ingenuity is so cunning/Innovation is not ours/Creativity is a luxury/We build with our hands what we have in our hearts,” but despite this confession they still end up creating a noteworthy “Empire;” that really picks up after that short choral passage in the second reinstatement.  This ‘Internal Cannon’ starts blasting of with visceral vocal venom and pounding drums before giving them a chance to breathe. There is a slight metallic latin rhythm in the bridge, and instrumentals that leave a bigger impact on my memory. Even if “Tomorrow is gone, I’ll start living for today/I’ll never stop the fighting and I’ll take it away.” In “Divisions” It starts with a dancing rhythm, but after “Cutting the Ties” we embrace the metalcore mediocrity that is mangled by a slower passage; it speaks louder volumes than those screams: “No one knows the weight on your shoulders/No one knows the burdens you bare. These thoughts won’t stop/I’d be so easy to take the easy way out. I’d be so easy to take the easy way out,” but I would be lying if the rest of the lyrics aren’t as compelling either. Would the message be better received if sung? “Pangea” is a fast paced, adrenaline rushing epiphany concerning the “bittersweet dream I dreamt” broadcasted to anyone that would listen. Unfortunately, it sounds like it is one of those intuitive moments that you ignore; “You’ve been deceived into thinking this is the perfect life/It’s an illusion to your perception. You’ve been deceived.” It is much easier to “Carpe Diem” with a song like this. It has a one minute long instrumental introduction building up the tension, but is a relief because it follows a slower rhythm this time around, and a solo with a southern-twang; when the screams return their prescence seems even more volatile. I am curious to find out which band or artist they are calling out in the lyrics for ‘Forty Nights’ referring themselves as David, and this band calling “You are the captor of originality. You are the thief of authenticity/Respect is something that you’ll never see/Everything you write all sounds the same/You’re forsaken. Forsaken on this mountain/The bridges have turned to ash,” as Goliath (The band?). I don’t know if they are talking about themselves; relax, I’m kidding this song is not a complete waste. “Salt and Light” is probably one of my favorites, and that can be for variety of hooky instrumentals intact (I tend to think of Blink 182, and or Brand New). “Poor Millionaire,” what a sad, and shallow life you must live. You believe you are better than everyone else? I’m Guessing "1/16/2011" was  very important day in the recording process, maybe even the first day; there is no better way than with this fifty-two seconds of bliss. The “Boys of Fall” seem to deal with their stance on organized religion? As to what the “Leveler” is eludes me, but what it’s about seems to be personal; “If I had not decided to follow Him, I’d devour you like a lion, leaving your bones out to dry.” To me, it seems to be about one of those “rare” relationships between siblings, except a little more evil. The deluxe edition has alternate versions of the tracks on the standard edition; these aren’t just traditional re-recordings either, they are much more in-depth reinterpoltaions of the originals. Don’t be fooled by the acoustic suffix of “Internal Cannon” because it is more of an exploration in how it would sound in a different tone and style;in the vein of the human abstract, sans vocals. Bells create their own supercontinent on the dream-pop version of “Pangea.” Zachary Veilleux  astonishing vision of “Boys of Fall” is another not to miss, making the piano sound bad-a--! The finale is the other book end to the opener of the “Empire(Midi).” My Favorites (on trad): Empire, Cutting The Ties, Pangea, Carpe Diem, Salt and Light, and Leveler.