Until now, there have been few effective ways to get disgruntled teenagers to peer out from behind their dyed black bangs and join in some holiday cheer. Leave it to the metalcore quintet August Burns Red to record an entire album of Christmas carols performed as punk and death-metal instrumentals. The opening
Flurries is actually a JB Brubaker-penned original that nicely contrasts hard-chugging riffs with wintry six-string melodies. It's hard not to think of Trans-Siberian Orchestra throughout this album, especially during those moments when searing-hot guitar leads pierce through songs like the hard-throttled
Frosty the Snowman or a bludgeoning rendition of
Sleigh Ride. There's also a good chance you'll never again be able to describe versions of
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen or
O Come O Come Emmanuel as
brutal or
punishing. The band takes a little breather in a (comparatively) softer take on
Jingle Bells, where acoustic guitars and piano provide much of the song's foundation-until the drums, bass, and wailing guitar leads come down like an avalanche halfway through. - iTunes
CD Details
- Release Date: October 09, 2012
- Record Label: Tooth & Nail / Solid State
- UPC: 5099967854325
- Number of Discs: 1
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