Pennsylvanian quintet August Burns Red are set to release their heaviest hitting album to date ‘Guardians’ on 3rd April! The band are heavy music torchbearers in the metal community and this is evident in their upcoming release!
‘Guardians’ begins with solid opening track ‘The Narrative’. This song grips the listener right from the opening note and the main riff carries a tantalizing vibe throughout the track. Before you even have time to draw a breath, ‘Bones’ comes crashing in, following on seamlessly from its predecessor. The intensity of this track carries on the insane momentum discovered earlier and makes for an exhilarating listen!
‘Guardians’ has a consistently metal sound throughout the album, something that August Burns Red fans will be delighted to hear! ‘Defender’ was one of the first tracks released from the album and it is representative of ABR as a band, as well as their desire to strive for a more progressive metal sound. However, with such strong tracks so early on, the latter songs tend to get a bit lost in the mix.
‘Bloodletter’ perfectly mirrors the classic sound of August Burns Red, this is a track for the old fans! The song’s disjointed element makes it an even more impactful track, a definite stand out song in the second half! The album is concluded with ‘Three Fountains’, its initially mellow introduction gives the listener a break from the relentless power of the rest of the album. At a remarkable six minutes, this is the longest track on the album, definitely making it stand out against the rest.
This album is the ideal collection of tracks for a metal lover, other listeners may find it a bit of a shock to the system! Regardless of this, each track is executed to a high standard and the dedication of August Burns Red is evident. It is a thrilling, cathartic album, perfect for a gloomy day!