AUGUST BURNS RED are pleased to unveil their new video for standout track “Fault Line” - the first video from their celebrated new album, Rescue & Restore, through VEVO.
Directed by Daniel Davison, the explosive video comes on the heels of last week’s #9 debut of Rescue & Restore on the Billboard 200 – the highest chart position of AUGUST BURNS RED’s career.
Drummers; they have the best view in the house and are the essential backbone of a band. Not to mention that drummers have to have the stamina of an Olympic athlete when playing live. As metal, hardcore, and other genres get faster, drummers are tasked with keeping a steady rhythm and flow. Now, the criteria we used may upset some people but it’s the only way to be fair.
1. Each drummer had to have both recorded AND performed live within the past five years.
2. We had to see them live (the only real way to decide to judge this)
10. Matt Nicholls (Bring Me The Horizon)
We’ll be the first to admit that BMTH were a shitty band for their first two albums (Okay, maybe just the first one). Aside from that, the band grew up (literally and musically) on their last two albums, “There Is A Hell…”, and “Sempiternal”. Matt’s drumming may not stand out when compared to the other drummers on this list, but it’s clear that the band is now making music that’s a clear departure from their beginnings.
9. Dan Searle (Architects UK)
Architects are a very underrated band; they have a huge following in their hometown of Europe but are just breaking through here in the US. Fans of mathcore will appreciate Dan’s drumming on their first two records. Their latest record, Daybreaker, sees a return to their technical roots on Hollow Crown.
8. Billy Rymer (The Dillinger Escape Plan)
Billy may have only joined TDEP four years ago but he’s definitely earned his place on this list. His playing includes plenty of polyrythmns and odd time signatures, which is the core of TDEP’s music which is ironic cause Billy played for a wide variety of bands including 311, Alien Ant Farm, and even Kelly Clarkson.
7. Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour)
Roy was the original drummer of Soufly and has played with Sepultura, and very briefly with Ozzy Osbourne. He joined Stone Sour in 2006 and has destroyed the kit since.
6. Ryan “Legs” Leger (Every Time I Die)
After losing their previous drummer due to “personal conflicts” Ryan auditioned for Every Time I Die and laid down some of their best drum work yet on their latest record, “Ex Lives”
5. Blake Richardson (Between the Buried and Me)
Blake used to play in the deathcore band, Glass Casket before joining BTBAM. Noted for his blast beats, odd timing, double bass drumming, and fill-heavy style, Richardson is considered a standout in his field.
4. Branden Morgan (Misery Signals)
Probably the most underrated drummer considering Misery Signals have been a huge influence for newer bands. Their debut record, Of Malice and the Magnum Heart is highly regarded as one of the best metalcore releases ever. Critics and bands have praised the band’s ability on the record in effortlessly blending melody and aggression.
3. Matt Halpern (Periphery)
When Matt isn’t drumming for Periphery, he’s running BandHappy which allows you to take lessons from your favorite musicians online and on-tour. His playing is more focused on the groove then how fast he can play a blast beat. The kit he plays is just what he needs and nothing more; perfect for playing ghost notes.
2. Matt Greiner (August Burns Red)
If want to hear a great drummer who can play fast and also write some jazz parts, Matt is your man. He not only has great complex timing in his hand movements but also uses double bass in an interesting way and really compliments the rest of the music.
1. Chris Adler (Lamb of God)
Little known fact: Chris played bass long before he decided to pick up the drumsticks. His playing style is known for his creative fills and precision double bass and for his often used heel-toe technique. You can tell what band you’re listening to just by hearing his drumming.
Almost exactly two years since the release of their breakout album, Leveler, AUGUST BURNS RED are set to return with their highly anticipated fifth album entitled Rescue & Restore, available via Solid State Records on June 25th
The album, described by guitarist and principal songwriter JB Brubaker as the band’s “most ambitious album yet,” turns a critical eye to the oft-maligned genre of metalcore, leading by example to prove that bands can still find exciting new ways to expand the genre.
Following two monstrous years that saw AUGUST BURNS RED release multiple albums – 2011’s Leveler and 2012’s holiday album, Sleddin’ Hill – headline tours of North and South America, Europe, Japan, Australia and more, the Manheim, PA-based quintet is back at it. Beginning next week the band will hit the studio to start recording their fifth full-length album (holiday releases notwithstanding), due out later this year.
“2012 turned out to be quite intense for us from a touring standpoint,” says guitarist JB Brubaker. “We did more traveling than we had ever previously done in our career and after three straight months on the road to end the year I think we were all ready to come home and shift into writing/recording mode. Now that the writing is complete we are all itching to get started with the actual tracking.”
“This new record will push the boundaries of our genre more than we ever have before,” Brubaker continues excitedly. “We set out to write a record where every song stands out from the last. There is a lot of ground covered here and a ton of meat to this album. It’s full of odd metered rhythms and breakdowns, unexpected twists and turns, and some of our most technical riffing to date. Each of us have parts that make our heads spin and we have had to practice like crazy to get some of this stuff together. I know we always say this, but this will be our most ambitious album yet.”
After releasing an amped-up cover of a holiday classic in each of the past four years, genre giants AUGUST BURNS RED are officially announcing details on their oft-rumored full-length Christmas album: August Burns Red presents: Sleddin’ Hill, A Holiday Album.
The 13-track release features not only fresh takes on classics such as “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland” and even “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer,” but also original compositions that are destined to become future headbanging holiday favorites. The album also compiles remixed and remastered versions of the band’s previous holiday hits, like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Little Drummer Boy.” Rounding out the collection is an updated version of the band’s rendition of “Carol of the Bells,” heard in Frank Miller’s (300, Sin City) movie The Spirit and Seth MacFarlane’s (Family Guy) American Dad.
“The idea of doing a full Christmas album has been floating around in the ABR camp for a few years now, but what always held us back was finding the time and energy to write an additional full-length in between touring and writing our regular records,” explains guitarist and principle songwriter JB Brubaker. “After finishing [2011’s] Leveler I finally felt inspired enough to tackle the Christmas album idea.”
After working with some of the biggest producers in the genre, the band chose to come home and work at Lancaster’s Atrium Audio with longtime friends Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland on Sleddin’ Hill, which finds ABR at its most ambitious and creative. It’s a work that enhances the guitar and drum mastery AUGUST BURNS RED are known for by adding unexpected elements such as banjo, violin, cello, piano and even horns.
“Because this was such a different type of album, I was able to get a little more wild with my influences,” confesses Brubaker. “There’s a section inspired by one of my favorite bands, BEIRUT. There’s also guitar solo that is an ode to Blue Album-era WEEZER, and my punk roots are evident all over the album.”
“Writing metal versions of Christmas songs has always been a challenge for me because the songs are driven by simple vocal melodies with the only variety in the lyrics. We decided to take the songs and go the instrumental route - the main melodies are there, but this record has a lot more to it then that,” he adds. “The songs have sections of music that flow in and out of the classic melodies we’ve all come to recognize. There is a lot of substance in these songs- more than you’d find in your typical cover.”
On whether Sleddin’ Hill is destined to become a novelty album or a key part of the band’s discography, Brubaker has the final word: “To some, the concept of a metal Christmas album may come off as silly and a waste of time, but I think this record has plenty of original ABR substance to interest even the biggest Scrooges out there.”
Track Listing for August Burns Red presents: Sleddin’ Hill, A Holiday Album:1. Flurries2. Frosty the Snowman3. Sleigh Ride4. God Rest Ye’ Merry Gentlemen5. Jingle Bells6. Oh Holy Night7. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer8. Sleddin’ Hill9. Little Drummer Boy10. Winter Wonderland11. O Come, O Come Emmanuel12. Carol of the Bells (2012)13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
This interview was originally gonna take place at the January 19th stop of ABR’s headlining tour but Jake was busy that night so Matt was cool enough to answer some questions over email for us.
How hard was it picking the setlist for the tour? I know it can get tiring playing the same songs over and over again. Looking over the setlist for this tour, you have the crowd favorites like “Composure” and “Meddler”, etc.
Picking the set-list for a tour is usually a collective effort as a
band. As the headlining band we have the opportunity to play a longer
set and include songs that we wouldn’t regularly be able to play due
to time restraints. We want to include the crowd favorites as well as
the more obscure songs that we don’t regularly play live.
With that in mind, what’s a few songs that weren’t in the setlist that you would’ve liked to play if you had more time?
I am very happy with the current set-list but if I had to include more
songs I’d want them to be Indonesia, Redemption, Speech Impediment,
and Pangaea.
In my opinion, “Poor Millionaire” and “40 Nights” are two of Leveler’s strongest tracks. Can you give us the background of both of these tracks?
Poor Millionaire is a song Jake wrote about someone who, physically,
might look like they have it all together. Spiritually however, this
person is a dry as bones. 40 Nights is a song about living in the
moment and the importance in not taking a single day for granted.
This life is a gift, nothing lasts forever.
I noticed 40 Nights has the line, “Respect is something that you’ll never see. Everything you write all sounds the same.” Who is that directed toward?
It’s a lyric directed towards society as a whole, not at anyone in particular.
Another song, Leveler has the line, “8,064 hours of conspiracies. 200 months which brings me 17 years of lies and betrayal.” Could you explain this for us?
The lyric is about an experience Jake had that he felt inclined to
write about. It’s a song about forgiving someone who wronged you and
the numbers address a specific timeline he’s referring to.
You guys played Warped Tour last year on the Main Stage; are you playing the tour this year?
We have not confirmed for Warped Tour 2012. Suffice it to say, we are
going to be busy touring the world most of 2012.
What are the best run venues from a production and band point of view?
I think one of the best venues in the world is AB Club in Brussels,
Belgium. The catering is amazing, the sound is phenomenal, and the
city itself is incredible!
Last question: what’s one book and one band you’d recommend to anyone that listens to ABR?
I’d recommend ‘Mere Christianity’ C.S. Lewis and the band Bethel Live,
a worship band from Reading, California.
