Combining intricate guitar tones, almost entire post-rock section, and incredibly crushing vocals; August Burns Red are back, and have predictably released another killer album. August Burns Red are metalcore redefined, in a genre which over the years they themselves have been able to influence and morph into something that can be both melodic and incredibly heavy at the same time. Found In Far Away Places may not be overly different to the albums that have been released prior, but when you have managed to carve yourself a sound, and identity so unique, you don’t need to rock the boat too much, and instead just keep building on what you have produced before. This is exactly what you get with the new album, you’ll have the same overpowering vocals from Jake Luhrs, but then almost immediately you’ll be treated to a subtle and almost beautiful guitar piece, such as in ‘Blackwood’.
There’s no denying that August Burns Red are a part of a niche genre, and as such they’ll only appeal to a certain number of people, but what they have managed to do is create an album so intricate and astounding, yet at the same time so raw and powerful that you’ll get metal fans from all over looking and appreciating individual parts of each track.
Opening track, ‘The Wake’, is a perfect introduction to what can be easily perceived as a classic metal track. Heavy, intricate, and also manages to include an even more impressive guitar solo to boot. It cannot be stressed enough just how technical the guitar work from both JB Brubaker and Brent Rambler is, and this provides the album with as much, if not more identity than Jake’s signature vocals. It’s a theme that is carried throughout their career, and seems to have been given even more attention in Found In Far Away Places.
With each track getting its own unique twist in it, be it ‘Separating The Seas’’ eastern European inspired folk sound building towards the end, which could quite easily feel really out of place. You also have the melodic and clean vocals in ‘Ghosts’. Each of these little twists just give each track that little bit of personal identity and gives them something special within an album of incredibly strong tracks.
It’s hard to say whether or not this is August Burns Red’s best album to date, as each album holds special tracks within, but you can certainly argue this is their most consistently astounding release to date. With absolutely stunning guitar work and incredibly destructive vocals that you can really sink your teeth into, Found In Far Away Places can be seen almost as a masterpiece of the metalcore genre.
