365 Days of Metal: Two Months of Jaytheism

Derp, 365 Days of Metal turns two months old today!

Day 60

I The Breather - These Are My Sins

Band Origin: Baltimore, Maryland, USA  
Genre: Metalcore / Christian Hardcore
Label: Sumerian Records
Running Time: 43 minutes  
Release Date: December 7, 2010 

Best Part: Djentdown? Djentdown.

Favorite Tracks: Common Good, Forgiven, High Rise, Doomsday, and Conquer 

Grade: 3.5

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These Are My Sins in 20ish words or less:

The debut from album from this christian hardcore band packs a punch that is both emotionally driven and musically powerful. 

The Band: 

I The Breather is a five piece christian hardcore band playing out of Maryland that incorporates spirituality and emotion into the driving force of their music, which is heavy, loud and in no way uncompromising. Lyrically their music covers a wide range of themes and emotions, and in tune with their beliefs is very spiritual, but the way it is conveyed is not in an attempt to sway anyone into their beliefs. The band members are very down to earth and don't believe that beliefs should be what determines who shares the stage with you.

Jay's Take on These Are My Sins:

These Are My Sins was a record I came across while perusing Sumerian's catalog later last year, and having only heard odds and ends of the bands work before I decided to look into I The Breather and check out their debut record. The quality of the release is one of the things that struck me from the opening tracks, as many debut albums do not always have such crisp sound. I The Breather holds no punches when it comes to their chosen style of music. Vocalist Shawn Spann is anchored in one mode from beginning to end, hardcore screams - if you saw the word Christian and expected some cleanly sung passages, you won't find them here. Regardless of this, the ability to convey emotion through the records powerful and spiritual themes is ever-present. The melodic interludes, twined over crushing breakdowns and sporadic djentings add to the emotional power of the record, creating some great grooves and moments that make you want to either throw your fists into the air or even break something. It's clear their music is heavily inspired by the likes of bands such as August Burns Red, but it would be foolhardy to think that this band did not pour everything had into making this record.

I'm far from a spiritual person - I'm a Jaytheist, remember? Still, just like these guys say that beliefs shouldn't be what determines who shares the stage with you, beliefs hold no credence over what I decide to listen to - and subsequently think is awesome. 

Sample of the Day: 



- J