August Burns Red: Season Of Surrender | Back To The Old Formula
(2026 – Fearless Records)
And on a day just like any other, August Burns Red returned. They returned to their old sound and the old formula that will keep their longtime and very first fans hooked. At least that seems to be the intention with this new album, which they’re dropping on us in 2026, following a three-year hiatus since their last release, 2023’s “Death Below”.
The differences are notable, especially in terms of the approach August Burns Red took with this new work. Unlike the prevailing trend in Metalcore, which tends to tone down the volume—offering a watered-down, sanitized version for a certain audience—these guys take us on a journey back to their best form: much more electric and energetic, yet with some interesting nuances worth highlighting. Of course, it also comes with certain quirks that hark back to more recent times.
Apparently, “Season Of Surrender” is August Burns Red’s big bet for this year—a band that’s been around for quite some time. The album’s overall production leaves no room for doubt; the group left nothing to chance and set out to record an album that, at first glance, goes against the grain of what similar bands are offering.
The first track you hear as soon as you put the album on and hit play is “Legions”, a song recorded with Mike Hranica of the well-known band The Devil Wears Prada. Right off the bat, we’re treated to a powerful track with choppy riffs intertwined with fast, furious, pounding beats. It’s not that there aren’t any melodies or vocals of that nature. It might seem like the whole thing is just guttural, but behind that there’s a certain leaning toward the melodic in some choruses—without resorting to “Cristian Castro”-style vocals (a melodic Latin pop singer).
The vibe seems to be “fast and furious”, very much in the old ABR style. That’s the feeling with “The Nameless”, one of the tracks that most strongly signals a return to the band’s classic, dark sound, and in case there are any lingering doubts, “Behemoth” goes out of its way to answer all those questions, even showcasing an interesting balance between speed, breakdowns, and melody, alongside heavy, driving riffs and guitar arrangements that set just the right mood.
With “Den Of Thieves”, the balance tilts toward the more classic August Burns Red, with a strong emphasis on the various guitar sounds—including (believe it or not) a truly compelling guitar solo—and here comes another standout guest appearance: more specifically that of Jamie Hails, lead vocalist of the band Polaris, who contributes to “Sonic Salvation”—one of the album’s most compelling tracks—with chords that go beyond classic Metalcore, incorporating textures that evoke something entirely different. In any case, the track is a true outpouring of rage set to music, showcasing ABR’s technical prowess.
Next up is “Cerebral Malfunction”, featuring guest appearances by the guys from Make Them Suffer, in another burst of power—complete with some interesting guitar riffs and guitar arrangements reminiscent of solos that sound great and set August Burns Red apart in today’s metalcore scene, and as a sort of brief interlude, “Tears Of The Clouds” welcomes us to what’s next.
Next up is “Whispers Like Splinters”, another great reason to check out this ABR album, combining heavy riffs, breakdowns, and speed, but with its mid-tempo moments—dry and sharp—without neglecting the harmonic element that serves as one of the cornerstones of August Burns Red’s sound. And just like that, without giving us a moment’s rest, the intense “S. O.S., which pounds away from the very start, even showing a certain influence of traditional Metal in some of its chords and riffs—believe it or not!
The circle is closing, and “New Horizons” appears on the horizon ( forgiveness for the redundancy), with a concept that’s quite intricate both musically and sonically; the result—as with almost the entire album—is raw power, constant shifts in tempo, and a highly technical approach from both a musical and compositional standpoint.
Finally, we reach the last track: “Forged By Failure”, a fine example of August Burns Red’s more technical and progressive side. Introspection takes center stage, and the mood shifts significantly. Things take a more melancholic and darker turn, yet the band maintains the essence with which August Burns Red approached this new album.
August Burns Red draws on their early days and even what could well be considered the “old school” of Metalcore, all wrapped up in a sound that’s more or less contemporary. Their main strength is always keeping the fury front and center over any attempt to make their music more accessible, and that keeps them in the spotlight within the Metalcore scene.
In that sense, “Season Of Surrender” proves to be a well-crafted album, well-conceived, and centered on power and intensity—evident in the interplay of various guitar sounds, with meticulously crafted riffs and even orchestrations and textures that give ABR an album rich in compositional variety while keeping the focus on a heavy sound, steering clear of the pitfalls that often plague the metalcore scene.
Without a doubt, “Season Of Surrender” is one of the best Metalcore albums I’ve heard this year, and while it may not be the band’s “best” album, it certainly stands out as one of their finest works in recent times.
In terms of sound, one could say that while the production and recording are solid—adhering to current standards for how music should sound these days—there aren’t any major surprises. The approach was clearly to emphasize low-end sounds in the rhythm section, but where the mixing really shines is in the various guitar tones, which blend exceptionally well—even with the vocals, which are almost always guttural and powerful.
The album cover is quite original. The idea of a tree with twilight in the background may seem rather simplistic, but it has its nuances on the inside sleeve, where the color shifts in the same image reveal different ideas and interpretations of the illustration. By the way, it’s worth noting that the album comes in the same cardboard box that we’ll never tire of criticizing, for various reasons. Let’s just say it’s a cost-cutting measure, so to speak, but hey, if we want to save the physical format, let’s at least put a little more flair into the physical releases, guys. What saves the day, all things considered, is the booklet—which, by the way, at least comes with the album—where we can find the song lyrics and a single photograph of the band.
August Burns Red made their move; we really liked it, and in fact, I think it might appeal to more than a few people—at least enough to give it more than one listen. For you old-school Metalcore fans, I’d recommend checking this out, since I can guarantee that more than a few of you are going to have a blast with “Season Of Surrender”—an album that’s worth its weight in gold and is possibly one of the best releases from this year’s Metalcore scene.
Here’s the official music video for the track “Behemoth”, one of the best on the album, so you can get an idea of what we’re talking about. And as always, we’re also sharing the social media links for these great guys so you can follow them and stay up to date on their latest news…
https://www.facebook.com/augustburnsred
https://www.instagram.com/augustburnsred
