The Devil Wears Prada- Plagues

Plagues is the Sophomore release from young metalcore, Rise records boom band The Devil Wears Prada. Again produced by Foundation Studios' Joey Sturgis, the bands latest release is both an improvement, but a stagnant release.
One of the biggest negatives i've had of this band, and frankly the only big beef i've ever had, is their lack of originality and honesty, and after this release I think the latter is simply due to the youth of this of this band. However, after some incredible exposure and one of the fastest growing fanbase for this style of music i've EVER seen, I think this band has made a great effort to establish their own sound.
Plagues, is chock full of noise, and deathcore, and strays away from typical constructive song structures that follow each other. Previously TDWP songs were constructed around the BIG mosh part, or the CATCHY singing part, with everything in between being simply unthoughtful space.
This record doesnt really follow typical structures and don't build around those aspects (while they still have aspects of both.)
Their aren't really aspects of technicality, but the structures themselves are very random which is good. However the real only criticism I have of this record, which comes as quite a bit of an INITIAL draw back, is at first listen the record is just kind of boring, and being that I review most of my records on those FIRST impressions, that is what I have come to see it as, a good, progressing, yet boring record. I do however think that if you give this multiple listens it has the potential to grow on you.

FINAL GRADE: B

Evergreen Terrace: Wolfbiker

After many years spent vollied around unhappy from label to label, melodic hardcore veterans Evergreen Terrace have finally found a fitting home on As I Lay Dying vocalist Tim Lambesis' record label, and Metal Blade sub-label high impact records. It is here they debut their latest efforts Wolfbiker.
Evergreen Terrace is one of those bands that has stayed honest over their careers, as the scene in which their music falls under, has ultimatly been growing around them. The band mixes hardcore, with melodic singing, brutal breakdowns, and even the occasional rock and roll and punk (which has actually become more prevelant in this record). This is the recipe for SO many bands that have come out in the last 5 years, however Evergreen Terrace has always been a pinacle of those bands, and one of in which are the perfectionists of the genre.
Wolfbiker is the same thing we've heard from ET over the span on their career, however more mature. Songs with lyrics of personal growth, and music that emphasizes on more of a rock and roll/punk rock feel overall as opposed to the ingredient of hardcore which overlayed their previous recordings. Instead those hardcore parts have been flip flopped, and if it were a ratio, it would be about 60/40 in the favor of rock parts.
The record couldn't be complete without two of ET's signatures, catchy melodic parts, and incredible breakdowns, which both hold their places on the record.
Finally, this band has gotten what they deserve, a label that takes good care of them, and in return they have given back a great record. The only negative is the album cover, which they have never been known for.
Pick this up.

FINAL GRADE: A

Still Remains- Serpants

Luckily for most of you reading this, I couldn't find a decent image of the cover of Still Remains sophomore release Serpants, due to the fact that it is absolutely horrible. Putting that aside, I really was anticipating this release. I'm a big fan of Still Remains, and upon first listen I was thinking this was going to be a decent release. Then after closer listens, I quickly understood, this was a sad exscuse for a radio friendly metalcore release.
I was quick to defend Still Remains upon the eve of the Metalcore boom as a legit band, however, after this record, I understand that they too have succumb to the cheesy bug. The record is saturated with catchy singing, and swift melodies, all of which do not seem as heart felt as their previous release.
The production of this record sounds good, but is not enough to save it.
It's a sad day, as metalcore has lost one of it's finest.

FINAL GRADE: D+

At the Throne of Judgment- Arcanum Order

Im sure everyone who has ever read my reviews on either a Rise Records band, or someone who has recorded with acclaimed producer Joey Sturgis knows how I feel about both. However, when listening to Rise Records legit Metal band At the Throne of Judgement, I myself have to take a step back on both stances.
ATTOJ's debut Arcanum Order makes me wonder how this band is even on Rise Records, rhis is a straight up LEGIT metal record, along the lines of At the Gates, and not the same way that As I Lay Dying seemed like At the Gates, instead, the way At the Gates sounds like At The Gates.
The musicianship on this record is incredible, espeacially considering this band is so young. It's a breathe of fresh air to hear such a record from such a young band.
I think one of my favorite parts of this release is the feel from the production aspect. For the first time, I really feel like producer Joey Sturgis hasn't over produced a record. Their are asthetics that are not only in the right places, but actually add to the record. For instances, on the track "The Mariners Cutlass" at the end of the track, you hear the sound of a tied up boat floating by a dock, the effects are truly cinematicin which I am a sucker for.
Im excited to see where this band is going, and hopefully it stays like this. This record is def. a contender for top records of the year, especially considering it's a debut.

FINAL GRADE: A+

The Red Chord- Pray For Eyes

The Red Chord have left their mark on the modern metal movement, as the forefront of technical metal. It's the hybrid of metal, and modern hardcore, pushing the limnits with technical guitar work, constant time and tempo changes, etc. The Princes of tech metal, and the tasteful of the entire "grindcore" trend, or "deathcore" trend.
When Job For a cowboy was learning how to bree, The Red Chord were writing whitty metal records, with their brothers Between the Buried and Me, and their fathers Dillinger Escape Plan, and Converge looking over their shoulders. The Red Chord will forever be defined as one of the few bands of the genre, that innovated what they were doing.
Little did we know, their third release would be their defining record. Musically they have taken a turn for the tasteful. The composition is incredible, and thoughtful, in ways indescribable by words. Lyrically, the record comes across more serious, however has its whitful moments.
Basically this record is a breathe of fresh air, which im not sure why I didn't expect anything less from such an incredible band. In a music genre that has just been EXTREMELY watered down, The Red Chord smacked us all in the face and said...
"we're not going to change for anybody, we're just going to do it twice as good."
Which pretty much sums up their latest release.

FINAL GRADE: A