August Burns Red don’t really need an introduction at this point. Two decades deep into one of metalcore’s most consistent careers, the Pennsylvania heavyweights have built a reputation on technical precision, power, and relentless energy. With their album Season of Surrender, they’re looking to evolve without abandoning what made them a cornerstone of the genre in the first place.
BOOM. There’s no messing around here. The album launches straight into a pounding beat, distorted riffs and raging vocals. The intro hits harder than a straight shot of pure moonshine. Fucking. Hard. The melodic undertones running beneath the chaos help balance things out just enough that when the big moments arrive, they somehow hit even harder. Mike Hranica of TDWP joins the carnage early, and rather than feeling like a cameo for the sake of it, his presence adds another layer to the barrage of savagery. As the song slows toward the end, Jake Luhrs growls “I AM THE ABSOLUTE” with increasing venom, sending the track out on one hell of a high.
“The Nameless” follows with sweeping hooks and crazy tapping sections that’ll make your head spin. JB Brubaker must have eight fingers on his fret hand because some of these riffs feel ridiculous. The song dances along the line between metalcore and deathcore, showing just how low and brutal August Burns Red can go without ever abandoning their identity.
Then comes “Behemoth”, and the opening immediately takes me back to the metalcore boom of the 2000s. Then, before we can even settle into the song, we get a damn breakdown 30 seconds in!? Galloping kicks, heavy chugging guitars and the first massive BLEGH of the track combine for one of the album’s most satisfying moments. If you’re not stomping around or banging your head by this point, there may genuinely be something wrong.
As the album rolls on through tracks like “Den Of Thieves”, one thing becomes impossible to ignore: everybody in this band is operating at an absurd level. The drums are locked in, the guitars never miss, and whether it’s the production or simply experience gained over the years, Luhrs sounds sharper than ever. The solo shines before the track shifts into a marching rhythm that, in my head at least, felt like a metalcore take on the Imperial March from Star Wars.
One of the album’s biggest highlights arrives in “Sonic Salvation”. As soon as I saw Jamie Hails of Polaris featured, I knew I was in. Jamie puts heart into everything he touches, and this track is no exception. Huge drums, band chants and soaring energy build the foundation before he storms in and somehow cranks the intensity even higher. Just when you think you’ve got the song figured out, Luhrs strips everything back and delivers a surprisingly soft vocal passage, which caught me completely off guard. Of course, moments later he dives into some of the nastiest vocals on the entire record while Jamie rejoins the chaos. It’s one of those songs that somehow keeps getting better every minute, and was straight away added into my rotation on Spotify!
“Cerebral Malfunction” keeps the momentum charging forward, this time with Make Them Suffer joining in on the carnage. Aussie bias aside, the guest features across Season of Surrender are handled perfectly. None of them feel forced and none of them overshadow the band. Instead, each vocalist brings something unique while matching Luhrs’ intensity and power. Alex Reade’s ethereal vocals during the latter half of the track provide one of the album’s most extreme and beautiful contrasts, breaking up the punishment and introducing a completely different texture without killing the momentum.
After the brief breather of “Tear of the Clouds”, “Whispers Like Splinters” explodes from the speakers with blast beats, filthy breakdowns and soaring guitar work. Something about this track feels especially raw. Luhrs never sounds overproduced throughout the album, but here there’s an extra grit to his delivery that reminds me of old-school core. It feels real, rough around the edges in all the right ways, and the slower guitar work closing out the song adds even more weight to every word and every moment.
That old-school feeling continues into “S.O.S”. Musically it feels like a nod to classic August Burns Red, while the vocals, breakdowns and twists throughout keep things firmly planted in the present. It’s a great example of what the band set out to achieve on this record: honouring their roots while continuing to move forward.
By the time “New Horizons” arrives, there’s still no sign of fatigue. The technical guitar work immediately grabs your attention before Luhrs storms in once again. And while every member deserves praise, this album repeatedly reminded me just how incredible Matt Greiner is behind the kit. The speed, precision, endurance and constant change-ups across the entire record are ridiculous. Song after song, he somehow keeps finding new ways to elevate the material.
Closing track “Forged By Failure” begins with a gentler approach. Slow-picked guitars and distant, emotional vocals create a brief moment of calm before the floor drops out from beneath you. Once the headbangers have had their fill, the track only gets darker and heavier. Synths and bass are smartly used to break those intense moments up, while Jake sounds completely feral during the second half. The effects draped across the music create a dark, distant atmosphere that feels cinematic without losing any of the album’s aggression. The final moments build into one last sonic explosion before fading into dramatic synths and disappearing into silence.
Season of Surrender feels like walking into a cage fight with a grizzly bear inside an active volcano. Every song, every breakdown and almost every line lands like a hit to the face. You’re never really given room to breathe, yet the album remains engaging because of how much is happening beneath the surface. The guitar work is phenomenal throughout, packed with riffs and melodies that constantly made me want to pick up a guitar and try to learn them myself. The drums drive everything forward with relentless force, while the guest appearances add vocal variety and value rather than simply serving as marketing bullet points.
August Burns Red set out to evolve without abandoning their identity, and Season of Surrender achieves exactly that. It’s crushing, technical, memorable and, most importantly, heavy. Overall, It sounds like a band that still has plenty left in the tank, even after more than twenty years of doing this at the highest level.
Rating: 9/10
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