Album Review: Texas In July-One Reality

Texas In July has easily been one of the most hyped bands in the metalcore community recently. They have picked up a pretty solid following off their debut album I Am which was released in 2009. They recently signed with Equal Vision Records and look to gain an even larger following. One Reality is my first exposure to Texas In July and I have to say I was pretty impressed.

Texas In July reminds me a lot of fellow Lancaster, Pennsylvania Christian metalcore band August Burns Red. Both acts feature a pretty fast, breakdown heavy brand of metalcore with melodic undertones. One Reality does get of to a slow start with "Magnolia" and "1000 Lies". I found these tracks to be pretty forgettable and they felt like they were kind of lacking something. Once "Dreamer" kicked in, One Reality didn't let up in quality. The rest of the album is chock full of catchy riffs, melodic sections, and some solid breakdowns. Album standouts "Dying World" and "Cyclops" make particularly good use of breakdowns. I am not a person that gets overly excited by breakdowns, but Texas In July uses them pretty effectively. The breakdowns actually enhance the song, they aren't just thrown in for fun like some other bands currently on the scene today.

Texas In July is a good young band to watch. One Reality is an impressive second album and I can only see this band getting better. They are pretty much a must listen for fans of bands like August Burns Red. Texas In July blends their metalcore influences with melodic elements seamlessly. One Reality is a heavy and melodic record that provides an enjoyable thirty minutes of music.

3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Dying World
2.Cyclops
3.Our Freedom