 | Artist: August Burns Red |
BSTscore: 86
Ferocious. There's one word that encapsulates August Burns Red.
Technical, gifted, staccato. More words to describe the band, for good measure.
Consider me a late arrival on the August Burns Red scene. The first song I heard from the band happened to be "Composure," from their second album, Messengers. That 18-wheeled semi-truck of a track blindsided me with an aural barrage that I'm still recovering from today. That's all I needed. I immediately bought Messengers, which led me to buy the band's first album, Thrill Seeker.
I'll review Messengers at a later time. As a bit of foreshadowing, I'll just say that Thrill Seeker is a stronger effort.
So I guess this is a reverse review, if that makes sense.
August Burns Red is a polished metalcore band. The group has it all—complex riffs, ear drum dislodging percussion, complex song structures, and brutal breakdowns. Most songs cease to follow the traditional verse/chorus plan in favor of a more organic flow. Everything makes sense, and the evolution of the music is apropos.
Standout selections include the surprisingly melodic "Speech Impediment," frenetic "The Reflective Property," driving "A Shot Below the Belt," and schizophrenic "Barbarian."
I feel it's appropriate to give the breakdowns a specific mention. Thrill Seeker is littered with them, and they are seismic. Spectacularly seismic. "Too late for Roses" acts as a shining example featuring a minute long blitzkrieg at the very end. It is as impressive as it is devastating.
The musicianship is paramount. Guitars are expertly executed. There are lots of tastefully employed solo-laden sections with an equal palm-muted "chugga chugga" chord representation. The drumming is fantastic with a syncopated style melding just the right amount of power and precision.
The vocals are good. They do their part in contributing to the whirlwind of audio aggression. Thankfully, there is variety in the screaming, from high to low.
While there are definite standouts, Thrill Seeker has solid tracks throughout. August Burns Red didn't break ground on new forms of metalcore with this release. They didn't have to. In a genre that is sorely lacking decent new material, this album stands out as a refreshing surprise.
Musicianship: 95
Vocals: 80
Creativity: 85
Impact: 85
Favorite Song: “Too Late for Roses”
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