Over the past decade Florida and hardcore have become synonymous with each other and with the Sunshine State continually producing bands the caliber of Shai Hulud, Poison The Well and now Evergreen Terrace, it's no mystery as to why such a strong connection is made. For all their 'core' roots though these Jacksonville, FL natives embrace enough chugging metal to keep any headbanger happy and while they also toss in a few melodic passages, their sound still firmly tips its hand to the heavier side of music.

One of the first things that sticks out when listening to Evergreen Terrace is their tongue in cheek nature. In a genre that has so often taken itself too seriously, this band have an eye for wit that is prominently on display, from album packaging credits, to the titles of their songs ("Dear Live Journal", "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em"), all the way down to the songs they play (a rugged cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence" is hidden on the disc.) And yet despite their tongue in cheek approach the last thing they take funny is their music, which is often a crushing display of metalcore prowess with a few vocal harmonies and the like thrown in for good measure.

With this being the case the band are almost a paradox as they don't represent the typical approach taken by so many of their peers, instantly making them stand out if not by their unique take on things, then by their undeniable talent. While their somewhat loose grooves and steamroller build-up's may not be the most innovative plan of attack in this day and age, the band still excel at what they do and thus "Burned Alive By Time" is a standout release that if supported properly should firmly cement these up and comers status in the scene.