The 2018 Arsies: January 25, 2018

January 25, 2018

Emotion	●●○	●●○
Memorability	●●○	●●○
Replayability	●●○	●●○
Innovation	●●●	●●●
Pace	●●○	●●○
Shredding	●●●	●●●
Vocals	●○○	●●○
Production	●●●	●●●
		✓

Holy crap. Look at this scorecard, friends and neighbors. With the exception of a slight difference in vocal scores, we've got a dead heat today! Cannabis Corpse claim the opening slot, and Left Hand Pass reminds you straightaway that they're not playin'. Their brand of death metal is simultaneously nostalgic and novel, but most importantly it absolutely shreds. But the same can be said of August Burns Red's Phantom Anthem; its metalcore is both comfortingly familiar and surprisingly progressive. The most significant variation in fact between these two excellent albums is not vocal quality, as the metrics would lead to believe. Rather, it's the breadth of musicality that both bands harness, but which ABR leans into more ambitiously. It's a sliver of a difference, but it's enough to give them the win today.
Tomorrow, our fourth week draws to a loud close with Glassjaw and Decapitated!