Say what you will, this is already a classic. I'm not happy about JFAC going death metal on their next records. This is a musical mess, filled with savage, grotesque vocals (high-piched screams, pig squeels, growling), thundering riffs, fairly simple drumming and a fantastic sense of barbarity and ferocity. Deathcore is meant to be obnoxious and over the top, and Doom is a perfect example of everything people love/loathe about this genre. Sure, Genesis and Ruination are more mature, focused, better technically, but this stuff is original and fresh - the chaotic, unfocused songwriting and vulgarity of every single instrument and vocals are in my opinion a strength. I like my metal this way - different, at least at the time. Typical death metal bands try to be as tight and technical as possible. This baby focused on being primal. The result is magnificent. Just don't take it too seriously. Bree breee!

I don't like songs with lyrics that shove some sort of ideology down my throat - be it Christian, Satanic, or Mormon. And besides being good at metalcore, August Burns Red kinda do that. Well, actually they're not that bad. Although you can easily tell they are Christian. Actually, I find the lyrics to "Meddler" quite good - at least they fit the music. Intense, very energetic (awesome for jogging!), heavy, brutal even. I'm a sucker for good metalcore and THIS records is definetly good metalcore. Melodic, yet technical, but most importantly - passionate. Good metalcore is supposed to be passionate, at least in my book. If you're familiar with this genre then you know what to expect - breakdowns, chug after chug after syncopated chug, double bass drumsturbation and hardcore barking. Even some nice, non-emo singing courtesy of Between the Buried and Me mainman Tommy Rogers. They are most definitely not pushing the envelope here, but that's not the point. What they are trying to do though, is make me destroy my surroundings with my ninja-moves, while screaming my lungs out along with the singer. Mission accomplished, boys!

Philadelphia metal-astronauts Rosetta have managed to gather quite a rave, yet underground following (even by extreme metal standards) since their founding. After hearing Wake/Lift, I understand why. "Metal for astronouts" really is a terrific way to describe the noise these four dudes create. You could of course simple label them sludge or post-metal, but bare in mind this is not another Neurosis clone. Hardcore intensity and angst, post-rock build-ups and crescendos, dreamy, tranquil moments reminiscent of shoegaze, or dream pop even - It's all here, Folks. And it really does sound unique. Hell, even the production and mixing stray from typical genre standards. It's a bit rough, the vocals seem to get buried under the guitars/ambience. That may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it works perfectly - the "distant" screams really send chills down my spine. "Wake" is probably my favourite track, and it basically sounds like a Hollywood apocalypse, but in a good way. Sure, I could describe it, but if someone got this far in the review, then he already has a vague idea of what I'm writing about. Give these guys some of the attention they so righteously deserve. If the end of the world really is near, I want this baby to be the soundtrack accompanying it. That would be one hell of an epic apocalypse.