The Batlord

Need a break from the straight-forward assault of Arkangel and Ringworm? Try Botch. Mathcore to die for, these dudes combine the intensity of the truest metalcore with odd time signatures that break up the heads-down hardcore brutality, while still ripping like some mother****ers. At times they do some really weird things that remind me of Between the Buried and Me's experimentalism, but without being as arbitrary (and they're a much better straight-up mathcore band to boot). I love BtBaM, but Botch are smarter and know how to make their diversity work in the context of their overall sound. A true thinking man's metalcore band. Their We Are the Romans album is another that is shooting up the ranks of my all-time favorite metal albums. Simply brilliant.

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