I, The Breather - These Are My Sins

Artist: I, The Breather
Album: These Are My Sins
Release Date: 12/7/10
Label: Sumerian Records

2010 has been a great year for Christian metal. With the year drawing to a close comes the debut album from Maryland metalcore act I, The Breather, adding to the list of solid metal albums that the year has had to offer. Drawing comparisons to the likes of August Burns Red, but with a bit more added technicality and a unique flair of their own, I, The Breather are ready to take the music scene by storm. Vocalist Shawn Spann keeps the songs interesting and cohesive, with an interesting formula of screaming vocals that sometimes transition to a brief yell, before residing back to explosive screams. Backing the vocals are some very technical, soaring riffs, expertise double-bass drumming, and heavy bass drops that all come together to form a cohesive album, that is These Are My Sins.

Breaking out of the pack is the strong opener "Forgiven." The track is a good choice for the opener, setting the feel of the record, both musically and lyrically. The next few tracks follow in suit, not changing it up much musically, but "High Rise" hits hard, really utilizing some of Spann's yelling vocals, as opposed to just screams, and gang vocals towards the end of the song, that proclaim the album's title, "These are my sins!"

A bit of ambience is introduced to These Are My Sins, first on the intro of "Longevity," which is continued in a few other places on the album, one being the ending of "Conquer," laden with soothing piano, leading into the album's only instrumental, "Empathy," which serves as a break to the heaviness, before going right back into the territory on "Crown Me King."

One of the most impressive things that I find about I, The Breather on These Are My Sins would be their no-holds-barred lyrics that are upfront about their faith. They are very encouraging to hear, and go perfectly with their in your face brand of metalcore.

Rating: 8/10 An impressive debut album is what I, The Breather have brought to offer to the Christian metal scene with their new album, These Are My Sins. A heavy, in your face technical metalcore sound, driven by their strong, faith-based lyrics, is what I, The Breather are all about. Despite not changing it up much musically throughout the record, the album is not bad by any extent, and I am sure that these guys will be sure to turn quite a few heads.

Tracklisting:

1. Forgiven
2. The Common Good
3. Destroyer
4. High Rise
5. Longevity
6. Doomsday
7. Conquer
8. Empathy
9. Crown Me King
10. Allspark
11. Illuminate

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