August Burns Red - Guardians (2020)Release ID: 18673
I love August Burns Red for like one and a half years now. I'll probably love them for a long time depending on if I'll still like metalcore in the future. They are one of my current favorite metalcore bands and I wish I could see them live. I think it's been 6 months since I reviewed their previous album Phantom Anthem, and although I said how much I love this album, as much as most of their previous albums, I've just realized how slightly disappointing that album is, having watered down what made them grow. And also the album before that, Found in Far Away Places has some great adventurous instrumentation, but I realized that those elements weren't that needed. Basically, since their great third album Constellations, they've been taking that album's sound and just adding minor additions. So it was about time for August Burns Red to try something new to improve their formula, and August Burns Red fans were wondering if a new decade would mean a new era...
Don't worry, there's no wild sound overhaul, because their new album Guardians (not to be confused with a different Metal Academy clan) is a refreshing change of pace while staying in their usual metalcore sound. There are many new elements to be found, a few of which bring back ideas from their second album Messengers to please the older fans. Of course it's not a sequel to Messengers, but a few songs sound like they could've been in that album.
"The Narrative" wastes no time returning to the heaviness older fans have missed for so long with memorable riffs, plus immense vocals from Jake Luhrs. This is probably the strongest opening track made by August Burns Red, more powerful than the one that opens Leveler. The excellent drop-tuned guitar warfare shows how complementary the guitars are in the guitarist's dynamic talents. Luhrs' vocals explore new dark territories to take over the spotlight. So heavily pummeling! "Bones" is a soaring anthem with a memorable chorus in great pace. Concluding this wonderful opening trio, "Paramount" have great sections that showcase immense riffs and crashing cymbals. This song is probably the closest to the band's original drop C tuning at...drop B. The song has the lyrical theme of need honest help in hard times.
A song with a similar theme is "Defender" which has fantastic drumming charisma. When that song was released as the first single of the album, people found different stuff that might end up in the album, such as a couple brutal breakdowns in the second half of the song. Besides the heavier parts, "Lighthouse" has a few of the most melodic sections made by August Burns Red, making a potential classic. Luhrs' vocals continue exploring new territories. "Dismembered Memory" is a break from the melodic nature with technical drumming and punishing breakdowns. Then "Ties That Bind" brings back the melody from Rescue & Restore with sonic guitar beauty, plus a huge breakdown.
One song the heavier fans can't ignore is the massive "Bloodletter" filled with perfect aggression and over the top breakdowns. It follows the lyrical theme of greedy needs taking over society. The measures are a bit repetitive, but that's just a small flesh-wound of a flaw. "Extinct by Instinct" has higher tempo while letting bassist Dustin Davidson flow with his bass, shining in a brilliant bass solo as a nice break before returning to the harsh heaviness. A song that should be a live staple in the band's Guardians tour and beyond is "Empty Heaven", filled with sing-along choruses and mosh-worthy breakdowns. There are also some thrashy grooves. The album closer "Three Fountains" is, at 6 and a half minutes in length, the longest track on the album. It is a perfect recap of everything the previous songs have, make this one a well-composed album closer. Dustin Davidson really takes the spotlight with his bass grooves that keep the track all the way up to the emotional ending.
Guardians is an album that is written for many longtime August Burns Red fans. It has everything for everyone, mixing influences from every single part of the band's 15-year album streak. This album is definitely not a cynical sellout, rather an album where August Burns Red really enjoys writing their music. Each and every song shows the band's true driving passion, and on top their metalcore cake is the icing layer of energetic vocals by Jake Luhrs. This is an album that's absolutely worth every August Burns Red fan's two and a half year wait. As someone who joined the ABR fan club (not really but you get the idea) almost a year after their previous album, I'm reminded by Guardians about how popular this band is in the metalcore community and how much I love most of their previous material. The August Burns Red we know and love is back!
Favorites: "The Narrative", "Bones", "Defender", "Lighthouse", "Bloodletter", "Three Fountains"
