Jedi Digest

I don't even know where to begin with this album so I thought I'd do a little backstory first.

ABR is my favorite band ever. That being said I judge them based on the near perfect bar they have set for themselves since 2003. Every album kind of left a breadcrumb of where they had been as a group. Thrill Seeker was more of the raw dough that was to become what ABR is today. Messengers was the life changing album that lured me in. It was so good, so fresh, and so damn well done. Constellations was the turning point, the point in which bands must change their sound so they don't get lost in the shuffle. It used unique riffs and lyrics that made you think without feeling like an overly conscious douche. Leveler was an extreme change with little salsa riffs and chant harmonizing. It gave a much more uplifting feel. I didn't quite grasp what Leveler was until this album. Which leads us to....

Rescue & Restore, basically a statement in the form of an album saying "We are August Burns Red and we are really damn good at what we do." Before listening I will admit I was skeptical because of the direction that Leveler took them. I feared they were becoming "too soft" and boy was I wrong. I feared that they were becoming a religious band that made you feel like a shithead if you don't believe in God. But instead hey showed what metalcore really was, a combination of hardcore and metal, rather than the whiney clean vocals, overdone synth, and stupid samples from movies that we are so used to today. On top of the mastery was also a positive message fueled buy Christianity that didn't shove God down your throat.

The song "Creative Captivity" is probably the least "metal" song on the album but I loved it more than all. This track was essentially an audio voyage through the Bermuda triangle and making it out alive. You know one of the songs that you would put in a montage at the end of an inspirational movie, its like that.

For all my fans of the more brutal you should check out "Animals" and "Echoes" to fuel your need for awesome riffage (yes I said riffage) and sick breakdowns. 

Sincerity was the perfect example of what Metalcore should sound like. I mean I couldn't ask for a more pure song.

It's finally out guys! But before writing this I had about a half hour debate on whether to review The Greenhouse Effect Vol. 2 or El-P and Killer Mike's Run the Jewels. To be completely honest, this tape is not an extension of Pabst and Jazz by any means, rather staying true to its title and borrowing off the feel of the original Greenhouse Effect. Asher has numerous tracks that are simply instrumentals of hot songs, Drama and Canon still have their names annoyingly stamped all over the project, like I said it stays pretty true to its namesake.

All that being said, I fucking loved this mixtape. It embodies all that is Asher with old school vibes, silliness, and sense that's he is making music for him, perfecting it, and not giving a fuck what you think. Tracks like Pop Radio and Monday Free paint images of paradise and lavish lifestyles.

There is literally something for everyone though. Just the other day I watched my mom make Mac and Cheese while listening to the freestyle of hit song Blurred lines. If you try and take the whole tape seriously you will certainly be disappointed because as always Roth had to put some ridiculous tracks much like Seared Foie Gras w/ Quince and Cranberry.

All in all this was no prolific project, but it didn't have to be. Asher has a good thing going and a solid fan base. Let's just hope he actually puts out an album that will have some notoriety in the Hip-Hop world.