On My Playlist: Top 5 August Burns Red

In April, one of the biggest musical announcements was made when Hilltop Live announced that metalcore band, August Burns Red, would be playing its first show in South Africa at the acclaimed and well-known Oppikoppi Festival in Northam, Limpopo on 7 August and Cape Town at The Assembly on 10 August.
Fans are still freaking out at the prospect of seeing this amazing band live with its hard hitting songs and positive Christian-based lyrics. The band consists of Jake Luhrs (vocals), Matt Greiner (drums, JB Brubaker (lead guitar), Brent Rambler (rhythm guitar) and Dustin Davidson (bass guitar and backing vocals)
Here are their top 5 songs, in my opinion.
5. Identity
The countdown starts with August Burns Red’s new album Found In Far Away Places with its song, “Identity”, which was nominated for a 2016 Grammy Award for best metal performance. This song fused together everything that is good about the band into a four-minute musical package. The guitars open the show with great melodies from Brubaker and Rambler followed by Luhrs’s great opening verse that set the mood. The lyrics, “Stop living in denial stop living the lie,” are brilliantly delivered in this song that focuses on seeking identity and finding it in Christ. The video is also something different for ABR with the band playing in an animated sea world in the belly of a whale. It’s pretty colourful stuff!

4. Provision
The opening intro of this song typifies what a great guitar player JB Brubaker, is. The lightning speed of this guitar riff is coupled with the rhythmic pace of drummer, Matt Greiner.
The pulsating beats are further emphasised by Luhrs’s growls in the opening verse, “You give us dreams to wake us up. You say, take pride in the provision. When all we see is the face of defeat, you say, take pride in the provision.”
This song is really uplifting with a lot of introspection in the lyrics regarding financial wealth, being provided for and being content with what you have. Keep an ear out for the bassist, Davidson’s great slap bass playing after the main verse. This gives the song great variation.

3. Back Burner
If you ever wanted a song with a hard-hitting introduction, then this song would be your best bet.
Back Burner is pure aggressiveness and ferocity from start to finish and is found on the band’s highly acclaimed 2007 Messengers album. The song starts out with the whole band going at full tilt.
“Gather all your possessions, smile cause you have got it all,” are great lyrics in the song that focuses on materialism and seeking worth in the wrong places. The guitars and drums in this song are really fast and insane with the double breakdown at the end a true treat. One of the best breakdowns of the past decade.

2. Composure
“Composure” is another song from August Burns Red’s album, Messengers, and is one of the band’s all-time best songs. The lyrics are really positive and, combined with the fantastic guitar intro, drumming from Greiner Luhrs’s vocals transforms into a trademark August Burns Red song. The lyrics, “’life can be overwhelming, but don’t turn your back on the strongest crutch you’ve ever had,” as well as “wave goodbye to the past, you’ve got your whole life to lead,” are one of ABR best and most inspirational moments. “Composure” is also one of the fan favourites live, where fans mosh and crowds surf to their delight.

1. White-Washed
This is the best August Burns Red song there is, in my opinion. This song has everything that makes August Burns Red the band it is. Majestic guitar intro – check, lightning fast drums – check, spellbinding guitar work – check, aggressive vocals and inspirational lyrics – check! This song has to be listened to, to be truly appreciated. The time signatures in this song are also brilliantly crafted and, once again, show that a good song does not have to follow the verse, chorus, and bridge cycle.
“I thank you for this pen and ink ammunition. Thank you for the inspiration”, is the best line of the song as far as I am concerned.