Define emocore. Jimmy Eat World? Get Up Kids? Circle Of Dead Children? Earth Crisis? From Autumn To Ashes? Face Tomorrow? All these bands are labeled emocore, in a way. There is no real definition of it, but what we all can agree on is this: it’s a controversial genre, as well as a popular genre.

What do emo and Relapse have in common, I asked myself after I received this album from Burst and read some articles about the band. Well, Burst is labelled as an emo band, yet closer to At The Gates than to Face Tomorrow. They combine influences from At The Gates and Poison The Well. The result? A hell of a record. Catchy riffs (comparable to “Slaughter Of The Soul” riffs), and a singer who can sing and scream, which explains the PTW link.

No bad words about the production. No bad words about the musicians. It’s just an album that keeps on spinning in your player and suddenly says ‘HEY FUCKO! I’m done with the tracks, push play again!’. You will immediately obey. Cool details: The ‘grind effects’ on “The Foe Sublime”, the subtle intro, the catchy riffs in “Rain” and the aggressive intro in “Monument”, followed by a catchy riff and a grunt. Genius.

Last month I received a cd of Harvey Milk from Relapse. That turned out to be a horrible cd. But they make it all up at once, with this release of Burst. Best release of the month? Best release of the month.