Shawn Spann's vocals help differentiate I The Breather from the metalcore masses. During the middle of a screaming phrase, he'll periodically sneak in a ultra brief melodic part, sometimes only a note or a word, never any longer than that. And it's only every once in a while, and adds some uniqueness to These Are My Sins.
One thing that's not unique about the album is the continuous breakdowns. It's what gets the crowd going at live shows, but on an album gets a bit repetitive. They do work in some gang vocals over some of them, such as on “Doomsday,” making them somewhat more tolerable.
“Destroyer” is one of the highlights of the album. It has some excellent guitar work, more diversity than most of the other songs on the record, and of course the pummeling breakdowns. “Conquer” is another strong track, ending with a piano section. The instrumental “Empathy” is one of the most dynamic songs, with music that's mellower and more melodic. It's a nice change of pace.
I The Breather's lyrics cover topics both spiritual and personal. They have depth, and are delivered with unquestioned conviction and emotion. They are a Christian band, but These Are My Sins will appeal to metalcore fans of all beliefs. It's a promising debut, and as they refine and define their signature sound, I The Breather has the potential to be a powerful force.
(released December 7, 2010 on Sumerian Records)
