Let me start by saying that I absolutely love Emery.

Trust me; this will eventually tie into the review.

Anyway, back to Emery: When I first heard The Weaks End back in 2003? I thought I had found God. Just one amazing track after another, with blistering guitars, soaring vocals, and brilliant transitions that never leave you bored. I couldn't get enough of it. The Question was just as good, if not a little quirkier. But their last album was, to say the least, disappointing. So much of their classic formula seemed to have dribbled away, and it left me with big ol' post-hardcore blue balls.

Upon Beauty Rests seem to have stepped in to relieve the pressure.

Gross analogy, I know, but it's true. These boys sound like an amalgamation of old-school Emery with just a hint of Circa Survive and Drop Dead Gorgeous in the mix (which would make sense, since an ex-DDG member is among UBR's ranks), and their first EP, "For The Days We Fear The Air We BreatheÓ, shows a ton of promise. "The Perfect Things In Poetry" starts with the same ambient opening all rock albums are apparently required to have now by Divine Law, but once the song really kicks in, it's all gravy. Think "Act Apalled" (Circa) meets "Disguising Mistakes With Goodbyes" (Emery) and you've got the basic idea. "Another Failed Attempt..." dips into the inevitable screamo territory, channeling Alesana on top of fiery guitar licks and time signature changes aplenty, but it's executed immaculately. A lovely piano bit leads off "Lord, Bless Our Imperfections..." before vocals turn to screams and guitar riffs slice ivory keys in half. Upon Beauty Rests can do the quiet-loud shift just as good as anyone else, and they use this track to show that off.

By the time you get to "Ambivalence", you realize the delicate piano and soft harmonizing is a staple of the band's sound. The higher register vocals waver every now and then, but it's not major, and this is a nice break before the double guitar attack of "Lines Full Of Lies..." knocks you on your ass, clean vocals gliding effortlessly over deep growls and piano breaks. The end of this song hits an emo low note, but it's nothing worse than anything Bert McCracken has ever scrawled. "My Only One" feels a little like a throwaway track though, with the first half sounding like an extended outro to the previous song, and the second half recycling an earlier piano motif with stripped-down breakbeats. It's nothing horrible, but nothing memorable either. Aside from the last track lacking punch though, this is honestly a killer EP.

I have a huge appreciation for bands who don't rehash the same "(verse-chorus x2) (break) (chorus x4)" formula over and over for their material, and Upon Beauty Rests definitely deliver on that front. A solid debut from one of the more talented bands to come out of the scene in a while; I look forward to hearing a full LP from them soon.