When you’ve been a band as long as August Burns Red has it can often become harder to try and cover “new ground.” This is especially true within the “metalcore” genre as oftentimes it can feel like bands may continue to rehash the same material or approach repeatedly without branching out.

This could be said about August Burns Red’s 9th studio album, Death Below. However, ABR manages to produce an album that is as equally unique as it is familiar. While the overall construct of the album is filled to the brim with what we have all come to expect from the metalcore veterans it has several intricacies interwoven throughout the album that it still manages to feel fresh and new.

Death Below opens with “Premonition” which is rather atmospheric in nature and serves as more of an intro. The lyrical/vocal approach is more a spoken word style than what we would expect from ABR, but the track instantly kicks right in to “The Cleansing” which is absolutely brutal. Clocking at 7 minutes and 47 seconds it is a grand opus and showcases the band’s refined ability and technical approach as every note is played to it’s full intention. The track is layered with soaring guitars and blasting drums. The length of the track almost feels out of place for an opener as the longer material is usually something saved for the end of an album, but ABR wastes no time setting their intentions with Death Below.

“Ancestry” follows and somehow manages to be even faster paced than “The Cleansing.” The track is a barn burner from start to finish and features a guest vocal from Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage. “Tightrope” follows and showcases some of the most intricate guitarwork on the whole album thanks in part to the addition of Jason Richardson‘s (Born of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, All That Remains) feature on the track. Adding him to the mix gives an additional depth both sonically and technically. “Fool’s Gold In The Bear Trap” follows and sets itself up as an instrumental track until about the 1:45 mark when it kicks in and rounds itself out both musically and vocally. It instantly flows in to “Backfire” (the album’s second single). “Backfire” is classic ABR and utilizes every square inch of musical space created leaving no dead air of any kind. It’s magnificently guttural and raw.

The second half of the album shows no signs of slowing things down as “Revival” emerges beautifully from the conclusion of “Backfire.” The overall cohesiveness of the album is seen as each track flows seamlessly in to one another. “Sevink” serves as an interlude or intermission of sorts allowing the listener to catch their breath before diving head first in to the deep end. “Dark Divide” brings things about face and continues the onslaught on the senses. “Deadbolt” follows and carries probably the most melodic aspect of the album in it’s hook/chorus. It is beautifully woven in to the chaos that is the rest of the track.

The album culminates with the duo of “The Abyss” and “Reckoning.” “The Abyss” features a guest feature from JT Cavey from Texas In July. As the track begins it feels like it is setting itself to close out the album, however, it plays out as more of a set up to the ultimate conclusion. “Reckoning” (the latest single) features a guest appearance from Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath, but doesn’t feel like your ordinary album closer. Where it might seem customary to ease in to things the tracks wastes no time plotting a unique course. Spencer’s vocals paired against Jake’s [Luhrs] is an intriguing pairing as it creates a bit of a contrast due to their respective ranges. The defining moment though hits at the 5 minute mark where everything is “clean” and Spencer’s delivery hauntingly leads up to a grand soundscape for the final 2 minutes of the track/album.

Death Below is a behemoth of an album clocking just short of a full hour. It is seamlessly constructed as each track is fluid to the next transitionally. ABR has once again managed to craft an album that is worthy of their brand of metalcore and is sure to please longtime and new fans alike.

Death Below is available now on all major digital and streaming platforms or physical media can be purchased via the band’s webstore.

August Burns Red is currently on their 20th Anniversary tour with The Devil Wears Prada through the middle of May.

You can connect with August Burns Red on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.