Album Review: August Burns Red - Phantom Anthem

Pennsylvanians August Burns Red have been around for virtually a decade and a half, and this is their seventh record, so they know what they're doing.

This is melodic metalcore at its best. All the key elements are in place: it's poundingly heavy where it needs to be, and soaringly melodic in between, the grooves are fat and punctuated with machine-gun double kicks, and the breakdowns are titanic. The juxtaposition of dirty and clean vocals hits the mark like an Olympic-level archer.

Some may deem it formulaic, but these guys also inject just enough of the progressive and the unexpected to keep it interesting. Phantom Anthem is a winner.