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.
Identity
August Burns Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
with thoughts repressed deep down inside?
I guess you just loved the lie
Truth is, you can't decide where my heart resides
You want to cure me of this epidemic, you call me sick
I wish I had said it, the words to admit to you who I am
My entire life, I was dealt the wrong hand
I've never felt so free
It kills me to hear you say you choose to love me
I was hoping that would be a given, given our history
I've never felt so free, so free
You think I'm wrong, you think I'm wrong
But I never felt better
Stop living in denial, stop loving the lie
I thought blood was thicker than water
You think I'm wrong but I never felt better
Stop living in denial, stop loving the lie
I thought blood was thicker than water
You think I'm wrong but I never felt better
I know I disappointed you
But I've got nothing to prove
You want to cure me of this epidemic, you call me sick
I wish I had said it, the words to admit to you who I am
My entire life I was dealt the wrong hand
But now I've realized this is who I am
I've made my decision, you're either with or against me
You're either with or against me
You're either with or against me
Stop living in denial, stop loving the lie
I thought blood was thicker than water
You think I'm wrong but I never felt better
Stop living in denial, stop loving the lie
I'm standing firm, it's who I am
You can't keep me, you can't keep me down
Iʼm moving on I'm living free
You canʼt stop me, you canʼt stop me now
I'm standing firm, it's who I am
You can't keep me, you can't keep me down
Iʼm moving on I'm living free
You canʼt stop me, you canʼt stop me now
The lyrics of August Burns Red's song Identity are powerful and thought-provoking. The song delves into the topic of identity and acceptance, particularly in the face of opposition and rejection. The first verse expresses the feeling of hiding and repressing thoughts and feelings, and the struggle of dealing with others' love for a lie rather than acceptance of who they really are. The chorus speaks of the liberating feeling of being true to oneself, even in the face of disagreement and disappointment. The second verse expresses the feeling of disappointment and the desire for acceptance and support from others, particularly family. The final chorus reiterates the resolve to stand firm in one's true identity and move on in freedom.
The lyrics of Identity are particularly personal and poignant as the band's lead guitarist, JB Brubaker, has openly discussed his experience of coming out as gay in 2019. He has mentioned how difficult it was to reconcile his identity with being a Christian and his fear of rejection from the Christian metalcore community. The song Identity reflects the struggle and the eventual realization of accepting oneself and standing firm in one's true identity despite opposition.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know how it feels to hide
The singer is asking if the listener knows what it is like to keep a secret.
with thoughts repressed deep down inside?
The singer is admitting to having kept deep thoughts to themselves.
I guess you just loved the lie
The singer suspects that the listener preferred things to remain as they were, instead of dealing with the truth.
Truth is, you can't decide where my heart resides
The singer is saying that only they know where their heart truly lies, and it is not up to the listener to decide.
You want to cure me of this epidemic, you call me sick
The listener thinks there is something wrong with the singer, and wants to fix them like a disease.
I wish I had said it, the words to admit to you who I am
The singer regrets not having spoken up sooner about who they truly are.
My entire life, I was dealt the wrong hand
The singer feels that they have always been at a disadvantage in life.
And cast aside from the man that I am
The singer feels like others have dismissed the person they truly are.
I've never felt so free
After admitting their true identity, the singer feels liberated and free.
It kills me to hear you say you choose to love me
The singer is hurt that the listener implies that their love is conditional based on the singer's identity.
I was hoping that would be a given, given our history
The singer thought that the listener's love would be unconditional based on their shared past.
You think I'm wrong, you think I'm wrong
The listener disagrees with the singer's identity and actions.
But I never felt better
Despite the disagreement, the singer has never felt better about themselves.
Stop living in denial, stop loving the lie
The singer is urging the listener to stop denying their true identity and to stop pretending things are different.
I thought blood was thicker than water
The singer thought that family bonds were stronger than anything else.
I know I disappointed you
The singer acknowledges that their true identity may have disappointed the listener.
But I've got nothing to prove
The singer does not feel the need to prove anything to anyone about their identity.
But now I've realized this is who I am
The singer has come to accept and embrace their true identity.
I've made my decision, you're either with or against me
The singer has decided to live authentically and chooses for others to either support them or not.
You're either with or against me
The singer is asserting that the listener must choose to support their true identity or not.
I'm standing firm, it's who I am
The singer is confident in their true identity and is standing firm in their decision to live authentically.
You can't keep me, you can't keep me down
The singer is asserting that no one can prevent them from living as their true self.
Iʼm moving on I'm living free
The singer is embracing their newfound freedom and is moving forward with their life.
You canʼt stop me, you canʼt stop me now
The singer is confident that no one can prevent them from living as their true self, and is moving forward with their life despite any opposition.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: DUSTIN CHAD DAVIDSON, JOHN BENJAMIN BRUBAKER, MATTHEW WILSON GREINER, RAMBLER BRENT GERALD, WILLLIAM JACOB LUHRS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ivan Kostadinov
Do you know how it feels to hide
with thoughts repressed deep down inside?
I guess you just loved the lie
Truth is, you can't decide where my heart resides
You want to cure me of this epidemic, you call me sick
I wish I had said it, the words to admit to you who I am
My entire life, I was dealt the wrong hand
And cast aside from the man that I am
I've never felt so free
It kills me to hear you say you choose to love me
I was hoping that would be a given, given our history
I've never felt so free, so free
You think I'm wrong, you think I'm wrong
But I never felt better
Stop living in denial, stop loving the lie
I thought blood was thicker than water
You think I'm wrong but I never felt better
Stop living in denial, stop loving the lie
I thought blood was thicker than water
You think I'm wrong but I never felt better
I know I disappointed you
But I've got nothing to prove
You want to cure me of this epidemic, you call me sick
I wish I had said it, the words to admit to you who I am
My entire life I was dealt the wrong hand
But now I've realized this is who I am
I've made my decision, you're either with or against me
You're either with or against me
You're either with or against me
Stop living in denial, stop loving the lie
I thought blood was thicker than water
You think I'm wrong but I never felt better
Stop living in denial, stop loving the lie
I'm standing firm, it's who I am
You can't keep me, you can't keep me down
Iʼm moving on I'm living free
You canʼt stop me, you canʼt stop me now
I'm standing firm, it's who I am
You can't keep me, you can't keep me down
Iʼm moving on I'm living free
You canʼt stop me, you canʼt stop me now.
Fenix Frenix
[Intro]
Do you know how it feels to hide?
With thoughts repressed deep down inside?
I guess you just loved the lie
Truth is, you can’t decide where my heart resides
[Verse 1]
You want to cure me of this epidemic
You call me sick, I wish I had said it
The words to admit to you who I am
My entire life, I was dealt the wrong hand
And cast aside (Cast aside) from the man that I am!
[Hook]
I’ve never felt so free
And it kills me, to hear you say; "you choose to love me”
I was hoping that would be a given, given our history
I’ve never felt so free (So free)
You think I’m wrong, you think I’m wrong
But I never felt better
[Chorus]
Stop living in denial. Stop loving the lie
I thought blood was thicker than water
You think I’m wrong but I never felt better
Stop living in denial
Stop loving the lie
I thought blood was thicker than water
You think I’m wrong but I never felt better
[Breakdown]
I know I disappointed you
But I’ve got nothing to prove
[Verse 2]
You want to cure me of this epidemic
You call me sick, I wish I had said it
The words to admit to you who I am
My entire life, I was dealt the wrong hand
Now I’ve realized this is who I am, I am
I’ve made my decision
You’re either with or against me
You’re either with or against me
You’re either with or against me!
Chris R
Honestly can't describe how much this song means to me... You guys are simply amazing idk how else to put it <3
AuroraPhoenixJ612
I see you Chris. 9942 12 likes. Wait it's me😊
Andrew Baillargeon
I was not expecting that Surf Rock breakdown in the middle. These guys have really stepped up there game.
Mateus Leal
Their
boredtodeath
+Fangbanger yeah,but it's quite nice.JB can really throw in that good variety.
Matias Morales
this has to be by far my most favorite solo and breakdown ive heard so far
Čičazz
Don't know why that intro to solo and solo itself sounds familiar, but it does.. Is that like beach boys vibe or something? Very cool anyway
Ohio Bass Angler
my favorite band of all time. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for these guys. their music has given me hope and strength to move on.
Jeffery Meredith
It is so freaking amazing that ABR got grammy nominated for this freaking amazing song!!!!!!!!!!!!
Auerra K
5 years later. Abr. The type of metal core band that will make a grown man cry