August Burns Red is generally credited as a melodic metalcore band, and have also been said to share traits of other genres such as progressive metal, and thrash metal but blending it with hardcore, extreme metal and post hardcore August Burns Red songs have technical or odd time signatures and heavy breakdowns, growled vocals, melodic guitar riffs, and complex instrumentation with a variety of influences including Meshuggah, Between the Buried and Me, Poison the Well, Symphony in Peril and Misery Signals.
While the group has stated that they don't mind being classified as melodic metalcore, Brubaker has grown to a distaste in the genre's usual bands: "I feel like anyone who can pick up and play a guitar and learn to play a metalcore riff and any drummer who can learn to play a thrash beat over a breakdown is doing it. It's almost become very formulaic, and metal to me was never a formulaic genre."
August Burns Red was founded in March 2003 when all the members were attending high school. The original practice sessions of the band began in drummer, Matt Greiner's old egg house and basement on the Greiner family's farmland. After playing many local shows within Lancaster, they recorded their first EP, titled Looks Fragile After All with label CI Records in 2004.
Vocalist Jon Hershey eventually quit the band during the same year, which led to Josh McManness to take on the position as lead singer, and after several months of playing with McManness, August Burns Red signed to Solid State Records in 2005. Hershey would later go on to form instrumental post-rock band Bells. August Burns Red released Thrill Seeker, their first full-length album, on November 8, 2005. In 2006, drummer Matt Greiner was endorsed by Truth Custom Drums following the release of the album.
McManness departed from the band in 2006, exhausted by the band's constant touring. He was replaced with Columbia, SC resident, Jake Luhrs during the same year. Bassist Jordan Tuscan also left the band in 2006 for similar reasons as McManness. He was replaced by bassist Dustin Davidson, a friend of the band. The band's second album, Messengers, was released on June 19, 2007. Marking the debut for Luhrs fronting the group, it managed to become the band's breakthrough album, reaching number 81 on the Billboard 200. The album has sold a total of 108,000 copies as of May 2011.
Throughout 2008, August Burns Red toured with several acts across North America and Europe to promote Messengers. From April to May they toured with As I Lay Dying and Misery Signals across the United States and Canada. In September and October of that same year, they headlined a tour with A Skylit Drive, Sky Eats Airplane, Greeley Estates, and This or the Apocalypse in the United States. The band also visited Europe for a month-long headlining tour in November, playing in Germany, Finland, Norway, Sweden, The United Kingdom, Republic Of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and France.
After this series of tours, the band recorded two covers of popular songs. They recorded an instrumental version of the classic song, “Carol of the Bells” for the X Christmas compilation album, which was featured in trailers for the film, The Spirit, released Christmas Day 2008. They also recorded a cover of “…Baby One More Time” by pop singer Britney Spears for the Punk Goes Pop, Vol. 2 compilation album, released in March 2009.
On February 24, 2009, the band released an EP, entitled Lost Messengers: The Outtakes. It contains material that is related or was decided not to be included in the final, mastered version of Messengers. August Burns Reds' first trip to the Middle East took place on March 6, 2009 with the band playing at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival. The band's last tour before their next album release took place in the United States, where they toured with metalcore band All That Remains throughout April and May.
To promote their upcoming album, August Burns Red released several new tracks and a music video during June 2009. The tracks Thirty and Seven, Existence, and Ocean of Apathy were all released on the 15th, 21st, and 29th, respectively. A music video for the song Meddler was also released during this month. On July 7, a week before the album's release, August Burns Red began streaming the full album on their Myspace profile for a limited time.
August Burns Red released their third full-length album, Constellations, on July 14, 2009. During the week of August 1, 2009, the album charted at spot 24 on the Billboard 200. Another United States tour was organized with August Burns Red headlining and support from Blessthefall, Enter Shikari, All Shall Perish, and iwrestledabearonce. After this tour, the band joined a short tour in Australia with Architects in support of Australian band Parkway Drive. August Burns Red toured alongside Underoath and Emery in November and December 2009 as well.
The band released their first live CD/DVD, Home, on September 28, 2010. The group co-headlined an Alternative Press tour throughout November. On February 23, 2010, Constellations was nominated for the Dove Award for "Best Rock Album".
August Burns Red toured Australia and New Zealand in December 2010 on the No Sleep Til Festival. The band played alongside Parkway Drive, A Day to Remember, NOFX, Dropkick Murphys, Suicide Silence, Megadeth, Descendents, Gwar and many others.
On July 27, 2010, lead guitarist, Brubaker stated that the band would be taking time off tour to write their next record, On February 12, 2011, the band announced via their official Facebook page that they had completely finished writing their new record and that they would be entering the studio on Valentine's Day which, following into March of the next year, the band announced that the record was finished, and that it was (at that point) time for mixing. On the April 5, August Burns Red revealed the name of this upcoming record as Leveler. On May 16, 2011, the band released the song “Empire” as a preview before its release. They also later premiered three other songs: "Internal Cannon", "Divisions", and "Poor Millionaire", on May 31, June 6, and June 14, respectively.
Leveler was released on June 21, 2011 in two forms; standard and deluxe. The deluxe version of Leveler contains four extra songs, including an acoustic version of the song "Internal Cannon". The album sold particularly well compared to their other releases, with 29,000 of its opening first week-copies being sold in the United States alone. These sales had the record land at position 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. After the release, August Burns Red took part on the main stage of the 2011 Vans Warped Tour.
August Burns Red headlined their own "Leveler" tour on the first quarter of 2012 with Silverstein, Texas In July, I The Breather and Letlive. Later in 2012, August Burns Red embarked on a European tour with The Devil Wears Prada and Veil of Maya, and an American tour with Of Mice & Men and The Color Morale. August Burns Red released their first Holiday album, entitled August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill on October 9, 2012. On February 8, 2013 the band was officially announced as part of Warped Tour 2013 alongside Bring Me the Horizon, NeverShoutNever, Black Veil Brides, 3OH!3, Crizzly and Bowling for Soup.
On May 5, they announced that the album, Rescue & Restore was set to release June 25, 2013. The album debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200. On August 30, they announced that they would release a documentary DVD titled Foreign & Familiar before the end of the year.
On August 5, 2014, it was announced the band had signed to Fearless Records and Found in Far Away Places would be available for pre-order on April 13, 2015 along with their new single "The Wake".
The band embarked on the Frozen Flame Tour from January 22 to March 8, 2015 along with Miss May I, Northlane, Fit for a King and ERRA, for 39 shows in Canada and the United States, sponsored by Rockstar Energy.
On December 7, 2015 August Burns Red was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Metal Performance Category for their song "Identity".
The Messengers 10th Anniversary Tour in Europe and the United States started on January 4, 2017 with supporting artists, Protest the Hero, In Hearts Wake and '68. On July 26, 2017, August Burns Red announced their new album, Phantom Anthem, released on October 6, 2017. The first single from the album, "Invisible Enemy," premiered on the SiriusXM Liquid Metal show the same day as the album announcement.
Echoes
August Burns Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The tension is pounding
Life change after life change
It's too much for me to take
While mourning the loss I am forced to celebrate
Celebrate new life, celebrate new life
When is it too much?
Burrow deep down inside
Somewhere, anywhere, a place to hide
I'm collapsed, about to burn
This will end me, set me ablaze
I'm collapsed, about to burn
I am about to explode
I can't take much more of this
Where is my way out?
Waiting for this page to turn
I can't even bear the silence
Where is the ringing in my ears to sing me to sleep?
Where are those who feel what I feel?
Why can't I see the lights shining down on me?
Home will always be where my heart lives
But this is, this is my way out
This is our home away from home
Pouring our hearts across the stage
With every word, we sing together
Screaming our anthem with one another
The open road is what I need to breathe freely
Free me
The open road is what I need to breathe freely
Free me
Free me
Free me
Free me
Free me
The lyrics to August Burns Red's song Echoes describe the feeling of being trapped in an overwhelming and stressful situation. The pressure and tension are described as endless and pounding, and the singer is struggling to cope with the constant change and uncertainty in their life. They are mourning a loss while simultaneously being forced to celebrate new life, which creates a conflicting and overwhelming emotional experience.
The singer is desperately seeking a way out, questioning when is it too much and when is it enough. They feel collapsed and are about to burn or explode from the stress. They are searching for somewhere to hide and waiting for things to change, but the silence is unbearable. They long for the comfort of familiar people or things that can empathize with their struggles.
The song eventually ends on a more hopeful note, as the band celebrates their shared experience of pouring their hearts out on stage and screaming their anthem together. They acknowledge that music and the open road are what bring them a sense of freedom and release from the stresses of life. The final refrain of "Free me" is a plea to be released from the pressures and emotions that were described earlier in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The pressure is endless
I am constantly being pushed and pulled by external and internal forces, the weight of which is crushing me.
The tension is pounding
The anxiety and nervousness I feel are a physical pounding that never stops.
Life change after life change
Things are happening so fast and so regularly that I can't keep up. Each new event brings more stress.
It's too much for me to take
I am at my breaking point and can no longer handle the situation.
While mourning the loss I am forced to celebrate
I am grieving the loss of something or someone, but am being forced to put on a happy face and celebrate new things that come along.
Celebrate new life, celebrate new life
Even though it's hard and I don't want to, I have to keep moving forward and finding joy in new experiences.
When is it too much?
I am wondering at what point the stress and pressure is just too much to handle.
When is it enough?
I am questioning when this cycle of stress and hardship will finally end.
Burrow deep down inside
I am searching for a hidden, safe place within myself to hide from everything.
Somewhere, anywhere, a place to hide
I am desperately searching for any place to escape and hide from the pressures of life.
I'm collapsed, about to burn
I am on the verge of breaking down emotionally and mentally.
This will end me, set me ablaze
It feels like the stress and pressure will be the death of me, and I am on the brink of losing control.
I'm collapsed, about to burn
I am overwhelmed and near the end of my rope.
I am about to explode
The stress and pressure are building up within me to the point that I feel like I am going to break.
I can't take much more of this
I am at my limit and cannot handle much more stress before breaking.
Where is my way out?
I am searching for an escape or solution to the stress and pressure I am feeling.
Waiting for this page to turn
I am hoping that life will change for the better and that this difficult chapter will come to an end.
I can't even bear the silence
The quiet and solitude are making it even harder for me to cope and pushing me closer to my breaking point.
Where is the ringing in my ears to sing me to sleep?
I am searching for a way to numb out and escape the stress of life, even if it's just to fall asleep.
Where are those who feel what I feel?
I am looking for others who can relate to what I am going through and provide support.
Why can't I see the lights shining down on me?
I am struggling to find hope and positivity in my current situation, and am feeling lost and alone.
Home will always be where my heart lives
No matter where life takes me, home will always be where I feel most comfortable and loved.
But this is, this is my way out
Even though the pressures of life feel like they are suffocating me, music and performing are my escape and provide relief from the stress.
This is our home away from home
Touring and performing together as a band is like a second home for us, where we feel comfortable and can express ourselves creatively.
Pouring our hearts across the stage
We put everything we have into our performances, and use music to connect with others and express our emotions.
With every word, we sing together
As a band, we are united in our love of music, and share our passion with one another and our fans through our performances.
Screaming our anthem with one another
Our music and performances are like our battle cry, where we can scream out our emotions and connect with others in a meaningful way.
The open road is what I need to breathe freely
Touring and being on the open road provides freedom and relief from the pressures of daily life and allows me to be myself.
Free me
I want to break free from the stresses and pressures of life.
Free me
I want to experience the freedom and relief that comes with touring and performing music.
Free me
I want to escape from the pressures of life and feel free to be myself and express my emotions.
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: BRENT GERALD RAMBLER, DUSTIN CHAD DAVIDSON, JOHN BENJAMIN BRUBAKER, MATTHEW WILSON GREINER, WILLIAM JACOB LUHRS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Greg Goodwill
The pressure is endless
The tension is pounding
Life change after life change
It's too much for me to take
While mourning the loss I am forced to celebrate
Celebrate new life, celebrate new life
When is it too much?
When is it enough?
Burrow deep down inside
Somewhere, anywhere, a place to hide
I'm collapsed, about to burn
This will end me, set me ablaze
I'm collapsed, about to burn
I am about to explode
I can't take much more of this
Where is my way out?
Waiting for this page to turn
I can't even bear the silence
Where is the ringing in my ears to sing me to sleep?
Where are those who feel what I feel?
Why can't I see the lights shining down on me?
Home will always be where my heart lives
But this is, this is my way out
This is our home away from home
Pouring our hearts across the stage
With every word, we sing together
Screaming our anthem with one another
The open road is what I need to breathe freely
Free me
The open road is what I need to breathe freely
Free me
Free me
Free me
Free me
Free me
Michael modaffari
This band has saved my life so many times. My mother passed away last year on July 9th 2020. Two days ago my grandmother who helped raise me died a week after her 92nd birthday and my sisters kept me from being able to say goodbye. She helped me navigate the bereavement of my mom's passing. This song has so much more deeper meaning now. This was also the first CD I bought with my own, earned money. I'll cherish it forever. I even got my mom to come to 3 august burns red shows. She's the whole reason I am who I am and I miss her dearly. It makes me feel somewhat better typing this into the comment sections void, so that maybe someone else suffering and hurting reads this and know your not alone.
The suffering may be intense but it won't be forever.
v1ne dakpa
Hugs bro 🫂
Jacob
The harmonized guitars and singing at the end are ridiculously awesome. One of the most beautiful songs out there.
Burn Bibles
Ill listen to the whole song over and over still gives me goose bumps
RALPH Ozer
Agreed
Hrothlorien Gaming
It's fucking sick 🤙
Nick Giles
Just wish this was the closing track on the album
Jacob
@Nick Giles Same. Would have been the perfect finale.
ForrestGumpIRL
I'm getting to the point where ABR is pretty much all I even listen to anymore. They have a song for every mood, and just about anything one could face in life. If I could meet ABR I would just shake their hands and tell them thank you.
Braydon Gardner
I met Jake Luhrs after a concert in 2012. Seemed like such a cool dude!