August Burn Red

Guardians Sessions

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Genre: Metalcore.
Released: 16/04/2021
Via Fearless Records

EP Review: August Burns Red – Guardians Sessions

August Burns Red have been the talk of the town ever since they dropped their album ‘Guardiens’ back in 2020, so what better way to further the momentum of the record than to release an EP full of B-sides, covers, and reimaginings of some of the tracks from said record. Ever since the band released their cover of System Of A Downs ‘Chop Suey’ in December, fans have made their excitement clear about the new release. So without wasting any more time. Here are my thoughts on August Burns Red’s ‘Guardians Sessions’

The EP opens with the ‘Standing in the storm’. A heavy track with melodic harmonies and crushing vocals making the song a real joy to listen to. Jake Luhrs has a very unique vocal delivery and he is able to completely change the complexion of a song with his sung word alone. This is further complemented by the harmonies created by JB Brubaker on lead guitar and Brent Rambler on Rhythm Guitar. The duo has a lot of chemistry while playing and this song is a highlight of what they are capable of producing together. Following on from that is the explosive ‘Icarus’. The combination of the melodic style of guitar playing over an impactful barrage of drums from Matt Greiner works superbly and luckily, the song only gets better as it goes on. I’m a huge fan of the melodic phrases behind Jake’s crushing vocals. A sense of contrast that seems to be fading away in recent years. A very strong start to the EP!

Something that you will definitely recognise is up next. ‘Chop Suey’ done August Burns Red’s way! Covers are never gonna be better than the original and that’s almost an unwritten rule in music. However, The band’s rendition of this iconic System Of A Down track absolutely rocks. The in-your-face bass drums through the verse and little licks that are thrown in, add a bit of spice that really helps to separate this from other covers of the track. Dustin Davidson absolutely nails the very infectious bassline giving the song a really nice flow. Continuing down the cover tree, the instrumental ability of the band is really put on display with their cover of the ‘Westworld ‘ Movie theme. They manage to capture the western swing and make it sound heavy as hell! Instrumentals are certainly not for everyone but if they are your cup of tea, you gotta check this one out!

The final two tracks on the EP are instrumental reprises of songs from the bands 2020 release ‘Guardians’. Both ‘Paramount’ and ‘Extinct by Instinct’ receive this reimagining and if you are a fan of intricate guitar playing and unique percussive sections then these two songs will be perfect for you. These instrumental reprises also give you a better understanding of the melodies and structures of the tracks in question. You are able to hear the elements of the song that made them sound so heavy on the record but the more acoustic nature of these reimaginings show just how well written each track was. I think this is a phenomenal way to finish this EP!

August Burns Red have found themselves on the cusp of something really big after the release of ‘Guardians’ back in 2020 and this unique EP will only further their momentum. There is something for everyone on the EP and I hope we hear a couple of the tracks live later this year when they go on tour with Bury Tomorrow! A great entry into the band’s ever-growing discography!