With Leveler, metalcore quintet August Burns Red further explore bonding their Christian faith to brutal onslaughts of metal thunder while retaining a dynamic and ferocious sound. What sets ABR apart from many of their contemporaries is the fact that they muse on their religion without proselytizing, allowing it to surface as a theme more than a focus without sacrificing any of their music's heavy attack. Empire opens with subtly uplifting melodies rising from bludgeoning rhythms, fiery fretboard shredding and Jake Luhrs' feral vocal howls sounding as monstrous as any black metal bands with theological differences. The following Internal Cannon boasts stuttered stop-and-go rhythms chugging along under soaring twin guitarmonies and an acoustic breakdown that seems to come out of nowhere - yet somehow, it fits the song quite well. Standout track Salt & Light best epitomizes the album's tug-of-war between darkness and light. - iTunes
