August Burns Red

Metalcore band August Burns Red strive to deliver a positive message along with the forceful attack of their music. Their sound is technically precise, with carefully aimed volleys of guitar (both harsh and melodic) and howling vocals paired with rigorous, unrelenting rhythms, often employing unconventional time signatures. Along with the aggressive performances, however, ABR avoid the darker themes common to metalcore, instead urging listeners to better themselves and the world around them. The group first found their feet creatively with their second album, 2007's Messengers; 2013's Rescue & Restore was a success with both critics and fans, and earned ABR their first Grammy nomination; and 2017's Phantom Anthem was another LP that earned enthusiastic reviews and was a chart success. The metalcore trailblazers topped Billboard's Christian Albums chart in 2020 with Guardians, and continued to preach positivity via raw power on Death Below (2023) and Season of Surrender (2026).