The world of post-hardcore and screamo tend to follow a similar parallel to black metal, being either forgettably silly. Read More.

The band has had to deal with one of the most unimaginably awful sets of events within the scene in recent memory.

The untimely and heartbreaking death of guitarist Justin Lowe was as unexpected as it was tragic, and has still left plenty of unanswered questions in the minds of fans the world over.

Unlike many of their contemporaries, After The Burial has also had one of the steadiest lineups and writing partnerships around, so losing such a key component to their sound and dynamic could have very well ended their career.

Despite such a monumentally crushing setback to the band, the guys have returned in less than a year with a refreshingly similar album that doesnt spend as much time pushing boundaries as it does reminding everyone why theyve become one of the most iconic bands to emerge from the Sumerian Records roster.

It may not be the most important album of the bands career, but the tenacity and conviction is impossible to deny.

While this is almost exactly what they did on both Wolves Within and In Dreams, its only a minor complaint amongst a vast array of triumphant guitar solos, monstrous breakdowns and some of the bands most confident vocal performances ever.

The bands first single and second track, Lost in the Static, almost solely relies on the bands thick and chuggy backbone while also delivering one of their most memorable lead riffs since the classic Cursing Akhenaten.

Anthony Notarmasos pacing and tight, choppy vocal performances really pop out as the biggest improvement overall since their last record dropped about two years ago.

It really feels like hes stepped up the most in the wake of losing a band member and sounds better than he ever has before.

Theres also way less of an emphasis on electronic elements in Dig Deep, which actually feels refreshing given the fact that many of the bands peers have been abusing this for quite some time.

Whether its the main groove of the upsettingly-pummelling Heavy Lies the Ground, the nod to Vildhjarta at the end of Collapse or the OG metalcore throwback in the final breakdown of Sway of the Break, this album feels like the most savage group of songs the band has come up with since their debut.

Dig Deep still packs plenty of punch in the lead department, and a few guitar solos throughout the album just scream 80s shredder material, Collapse and Deluge especially.

You honestly dont see many bands that spend as much time tipping their hat to Meshuggah as they do to Racer- X.

Trent Hafdahl is still an absolute fretboard wizard when he decides to pop his head out in the mix, make no mistake.

Oh, and they dont seem to down on themselves for the entirety of the record, either.

Perhaps the most important moment of the album happens during the albums best track, Laurentian Ghosts, in which a crucial airhorn sample is dropped right before ripping into the songs heaviest moment.

If this moment doesnt make you laugh hysterically and want to loop it for weeks, youve basically admitted that you have no soul.

After The Burial arent reinventing the wheel or taking a whole lot of chances with this album, but instead theyve arguably become the most consistent band to ever bear the Sumeriancore moniker.

IMO at this point theyre just getting by on name recognition.

If another band put this out no one would even give this a second look, I think.

Once Dream Weapon gets going and you forget that youre supposed to be listening to a Genghis Tron record, its quite a wonderfully bright journey that serves as a calm and content reflection on extinction.

Theres so much great music coming out of Australia at the moment that it can be hard to keep up with it all.

In order. Read More.

After The Burial Dig Deep.Rar