[Album Review]: AUGUST BURNS RED (US) - ‘Season of Surrender’.
AUGUST BURNS RED
SEASON OF SURRENDER
RELEASE DATE:
FRIDAY 5 JUNE, 2026
(via FEARLESS RECORDS)
Writer: Mal Keecher
Cover art by David Salinas
The record begins with 'Legions' (Feat. Mike Hranica from The Devil Wears Prada), and so naturally the vibe is kicked up a gear with Hranica's vocals adding a snarling, growling heavy atmosphere to the record that initially sets the tone.
Don’t make deals with the devil
Shakings hands with selfish intent
I need to quench the thirst for my vanity
'The Nameless' is a markedly different djent-fest, and one of two quality singles lifted from this album so far, the other being the gargantuan 'Sonic Salvation'.
'Behemoth' is truly an epic creation with the “blegh!” for emphasis, the djent, the conviction, the relentless pace and repeated lyrics hammering home some high-quality metal crafted with passion:
I had to suffocate to stop the suffering...
'Den of Thieves' leading riff cuts right to the core, appealing to the senses and finding a solid home. The guitar-work on this track alone is impressive and highly exhilarating. Bone-snapping breakdowns along with all the expected ABR musical aspects, merging to amalgamate in a sonically-thrilling four minutes of absolute fire.
There’s no forgiveness
There’s no forgiveness for you…
Across this tenth full-length album by ABR, Jake Luhrs and band have a particular focus on the ferociously progressive. The record is a delightfully heavy onslaught with breakdowns galore and quality, solid writing all round.
'Sonic Salvation' (Feat. Jamie Hails of Polaris) begins with an epic and unnerving guitar, followed by an impressive array of malicious and delicious metalcore that envelopes the listener with a barrage of satiating sonic sounds. With over 314k listens on YT music within 48 hours of its release, this collab hits the mark at every turn.
'Cerebral Malfunction' (Feat. Make Them Suffer) is a blistering bombardment that features melodic guitar riffs melded with a metalcore mayhem that ascends towards a controlled chaos of five glorious minutes of run-time.
I’ve got a corrupted cortex
Synapse is twisted
My hands have gone numb from
Cerebral malfunction
Self sabotage
There’s no turning back
Self sabotage
On a path to insanity...
I've got nothing to worry about …
'Tear of the Clouds' is an intermission and light lull in the record, providing an ambience before the contrast of 'Whispers Like Splinters' which terrorises the senses with a mostly guitar and drums-driven track that hits hard while building in intensity, living up to its apt title, then relents.
Nothing is sacred when you're feeling forsaken...
‘S.O.S’ is a relatively lengthy title track storm that is both tumultuous and altogether engaging at once– certainly one for the crowd surfers with a metalcore blegh for punch.
The following track brings 'New Horizons', with a super catchy guitar riff to begin, and finds high velocity traction with a track that deals with grief and loss through this evidently cathartic creative outlet. It's a universally human- themed heavy onslaught that is conjured with heavy hearts, and the catharsis ensues five minutes of quality metalcore.
Shockwaves reverb in the canyons
A flood of feelings echo in my dreams
Shockwaves reverb in the canyons
A flood of feelings drowns me...
With many placing their filler tracks towards the end of a record, ABR rounds out Season of Surrender with a beautifully epic track titled 'Forged by Failure' that blends all of ABR's skillful aesthetics into one gloriously enjoyable, progressive piece. It showcases ABR on all fronts–from the initial resounding guitar notes, the addition of Luhr’s vocalising of lyrics that address themes of hardship and vulnerability, to the hammering drums and bass.
On the whole, each track is laden with meaningful lyrical content coupled with a production and cohesion that feels polished and solid, culminating in a record that will surely satisfy the senses when ABR tour Australia and NZ this September through to October 8th, 2026.
Check out August Burns Red's lyric video of 'Cerebral Malfunction' on YT which also features their album art of a tree pluming visualiser:
Season of Surrender available to buy, stream on various platforms via this link:
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