Review: Luke Petty
In the ever evolving landscape of metalcore, hitting album number ten is a monumental feat. With Season of Surrender, August Burns Red aren’t just marking the milestone—they’re defending their crown. There is no atmospheric buildup or gentle invitation here; the album explodes into frame, feeling less like an introduction and more like a home invasion. It’s familiar ground for the veterans, but executed with a dangerous, sharper precision that proves subtlety is entirely overrated.
When Jake Luhrs promised one of the heaviest efforts in the August Burns Red catalogue, it wasn’t mere promotional slur—it was a statement of intent. The heaviness of this record is found less in its sheer velocity and more in its stark efficiency. Breakdowns are no longer decorative features; they are structural necessities. The ending of opener “Legions,” which features vocal contributions from The Devil Wears Prada’s Mike Hranica, sets the stage for what is hopefully a refreshed record from a band that desperately needed it.
The album’s strengths lie in its calculated balance between contemporary brutality and throwback thrash. Lead single “Behemoth” sets the tone with a no-nonsense, stripped-back approach. By favouring repetitive, hypnotic grooves over the cheap shock-value breakdowns that clutter the modern genre landscape, the band proves that restraint can be just as heavy as chaos.
Vocalist Jake Luhrs continues to be a driving force, confidently spicing up his trademark low-mid growl. On “S.O.S.,” he flirts with genuine deathcore-esque lows during a punishing finale built on beefy, diminished chugs—a brilliant, bruising contrast to the track’s earlier melodic catchiness. Meanwhile, “Den of Thieves” serves as a perfect nod to the band’s roots. It’s a track destined for the festival circuit, blending a circle-pit-ready melodic guitar lead with a rhythm section that effortlessly dances between technical thrash and death metal influences.
August Burns Red have unleashed one devastating song with “Sonic Salvation.” The track doesn’t just raise the stakes; it serves as a massive full-circle moment for the band’s relationship with the heavy music scene Down Under. Featuring a powerhouse guest appearance from Jamie Hails, frontman of the juggernaut outfit Polaris, the collaboration feels entirely earned. Having previously shared the stage when August Burns Red opened for Polaris during a phenomenal past tour, the track cements a mutual respect between two generations of metalcore elites.
The album’s undisputed highlight, however, is “Cerebral Malfunction.” Featuring guest spots from Make Them Suffer’s Sean Harmanis and Alex Reade, the track starts as a textbook ABR melodic anthem before pivoting beautifully after the guitar solo. It drops into an extended clean refrain—a masterful atmospheric breather that slowly builds the tension back up into a towering clean-vocal conclusion.
For all its technical brilliance, Season of Surrender ultimately finds itself trapped between two camps: cutting-edge contemporary heavy hitters and comfortable, business-as-usual metalcore. Every drum fill, guitar solo, and production choice sounds pristine, boasting the clean, distinct tones the band has perfected over their last few cycles.
Sticking to what you’re good at isn’t a crime, but when a formula is commercialised to this level of precision, the listening experience is occasionally interrupted by the ghost of records past. Don’t get me wrong, Season of Surrender is an undeniable masterclass in execution; now, fans can only hope the band uses their next chapter to prove they can still sound like August Burns Red without holding themselves back from the unknown.
SEASON OF SURRENDER is out now
http://seasonofsurrender.net/