I'm going to marry the new ETID CD, it's freaking brilliant.
I don't know what it is about the bands you listed, I just can't find the flow. Personally, I think all songs have flow, some people just can't find it. That's why so many idiots like rap, the flow is so simple. Once you progress into more complex music, the flow is harder to find, and itself more complex. Some like it, some don't. Personally, I don't like the music you listed. I'm not religious, TRUST ME, but that whole Satan music just rings as lame. It becomes more then just music, and if you believe in Satan, in a way, you're religious.
I also like a break from the heavy stuff too, bands like Thrice, The Mars Volta, Alexisonfire (which isn't soft, but more balanced), Atreyu (not the newest album, the one before it). And when I get sick of anything hard, I hit up some trance like Pendulum, or Massive Attack.
Good talking, glad to see someone else on this board that likes harder music. Everyone else is "OMG, procupine tree is so hardcore"
But seriously, don't leave me.
SheepStar