Southern Californians Autumn Black have dropped their metalcore musings upon us in the form of Beneath The Shadows (Tyburn Records).  What's to like about the latest entrant in the sardine packed world of metalcore?  Well, if you liked Atreyu before they sold out, you'll probably find something to like here.  What's to dislike about this album?  If you liked Atreyu before they sold out, this album pays a bit too much homage to them. 

I wouldn't go so far as to say that Autumn Black are an Atreyu cover band, but god damn if they haven't spent month upon month hunkered over a book of Atreyu tabs.  They've got the buzzing guitar tones over the heavy rhythm riffs all throughout.  They've got the Atreyu like duelling vocalist thing going throughout.  Unfortunately, Ruben Platt's attempts at the whole growl/shriek thing come off sounding like he is gargling honey.  The backing clean vocals of guitarist Cory Wolf are thin and sound more like a prebuscent boy trying to find his range.  Add piss poor production to the mix that makes for clicky drums and thin guitars and you have a record that sounds no better than a high school band demo. 

If you haven't been dissuaded yet and still think you want to add Atreyu-lite, er, Autumn Black to your collection, check out "Nameless", "Remembrance" and "Eyes of a Darkened Past".  I, on the other hand, will go dig up my copy of Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses and enjoy the brutal sounds of Atreyu before they sold out.