EP REVIEW: Guardians Sessions – August Burns Red

There are few bands in metalcore today more dependable than AUGUST BURNS RED. Perhaps second only to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, the five-piece have remained unbowed in releasing consistently solid takes on the genre for the better part of two decades. While it’s fair to say they’ve rarely pushed the envelope, you can’t deny that they’ve had some real highs. 2007’s Messengers was something of a landmark in the scene, while their more recent output has landed them two Grammy nominations. Last year’s Guardians carried on business as usual, throwing up no great surprises nor any real stinkers.

Of course, in another world the AUGUST BURNS RED train would probably be in full touring swing right now. Instead, a certain global pandemic has left the Pennsylvanians with their fair share of downtime. Eager not to let this go to waste, they’re back with the Guardians Sessions EP – a collection of B-sides, covers, and reimagined tracks. This is something the band have a bit of a track record for. Similar records followed both Messengers and 2017’s Phantom Anthem. This one’s a bit longer than both of those though, with a near 28-minute runtime that’s particularly generous for an EP.

The record chops up quite nicely into three distinct sections. It starts with two previously unreleased tracks in the form of Standing In The Storm and Icarus. Both of these are products of the band’s Guardians recording sessions from back in September 2019. While they were apparently left off the record as “the black sheep of the group“, neither feels a huge departure from the territory the band charted on that album. Both are perfectly solid and boast plenty of what AUGUST BURNS RED have done so well for so long. The production is crisp and crushing, and the band provide all the usual chugging riffs and soaring lead guitar parts. Icarus definitely feels the stronger of the two, with life-affirming lyrics and a massive melodic chorus.

The next portion of the record essentially comprises two covers. First up is the band’s take on SYSTEM OF A DOWN‘s iconic Chop Suey. Tackling one of the biggest metal songs of all time is a brave move for sure, but perhaps unsurprisingly this falls quite far short of the original. Aside from the addition of a few extra lead parts, the band play it pretty straight. The production is definitely beefier than the original, but the performances seem to miss SOAD‘s more maniacal edge. Then again, this is Chop Suey we’re talking about, so we should probably cut the band some slack. At least they don’t murder it, even if it is a touch unnecessary.

If we’re splitting hairs, the band’s second ‘cover’ is technically more of an arrangement. Here, they present their take on the theme from HBO‘s Westworld, and fare much better. This one’s an instrumental piece which manages to stay interesting and varied throughout. It features acoustic guitar-led sections, soaring metal parts, and even jauntier moments which would fit well in the saloons featured on the show. Overall, it makes for a definite and dynamic highlight. It probably wouldn’t even sound too out of place on a BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME record – and that’s definitely a good thing!

To a large extent, Westworld acts as a good signpost for the EP’s final section. This comprises two further instrumental pieces – both reimagined takes of tracks from Guardians. While AUGUST BURNS RED strip away pretty much all the metal for these, they’re still dynamic pieces. The band’s guitar duo of  JB Brubaker and Brent Rambler appear to be particularly in their element here. Relying almost exclusively on acoustic guitars for a change, they still manage to offer up plenty of impressive leads and riffs. As well as this, these two songs boast rich warm strings, varied percussion, and the odd electronic element thrown in for good measure.

While there are three clear sections on Guardians Sessions, in a way it feels like a game of two halves. Both the opening two tracks and Chop Suey after them are pretty standard metalcore fare. On the other hand, there’s the more varied and interesting territory of the album’s final three instrumentals. It’s here where it seems the band are actually having fun, even if the tracks themselves are a bit longer than they need to be.

Overall, Guardians Sessions is probably more of a curio than it is essential AUGUST BURNS RED listening. That said, there’s not really much to complain about here. It definitely makes for a decent enough use of the band’s downtime, and one that should keep fans happy at the very least.

Rating: 7/10

Guardians Sessions is set for release on April 16th via Fearless Records.

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