August Burns Red Set The Stage Ablaze During Leveler Anniversary Livestream

26th May 202126th May 2021 Rob Cella 738 Views

(Cover Photo Credit: Ray Duker)

August Burns Red celebrates the 10th Anniversary of their fourth studio album Leveler by not only re-leasing the classic record with guest vocalists, alternate tunings and added guitar solos, but by completing the hat trick with their third livestream show over the last six months. The band secretly hit the studio in January of this year to start the re-recording process and planning out what would ultimately be their most elaborate and larger than life performance to date. The band reconvened at Rock Lilitz Studio A Saturday night to deliver their newly reincarnated vision to their fans on a level like no other.

30 minutes prior to showtime, we got to sit down with August Burns Red as the guys recall their memories of the original recording sessions back in the winter of 2011. JB Brubaker would lead the discussions that covered each members favorite songs on the album and the lyrical inspirations behind some of the tracks, to drummer Matt Greiner relying on a 10 year old drum cover on YouTube to help him remember his parts for a song. The band was all smiles and laughter as they sat together on their trip down memory lane. But as the countdown in the corner of the screen hit zeros, we’re taken from the couch to the darkness of the stage where August Burns Red will kick off an hour and twenty minutes of pure insanity.

With what sounds like a heart monitor beeping across the room the orange lighting reveals the flowing smoke across the stage. As the last set of stage lights awake August Burns Red emerge from the shadows just as the staple flaming U light begins to glow behind the drum kit. With Brent, Dustin, JB and Matt all in their respected positions they lit the fuse on the newly written instrumental juggernaut X. The impressive lighting sequence ignites around the band as they chug away on their risers above the blanket of smoke, creating a stunning visual as if the band is performing high above the clouds. While the open guitar notes still occupy our ears singer Jake Luhrs jogs out and lets out a mic-less roar of “LET’S GO”, that could probably be heard outside the building. And right on que, Brubaker launches into the albums opening riff of Empire.

To say that the energy was high would be a huge understatement. The song itself is heavy and fast paced but when it’s being performed by a concert hungry band like ABR it will raise pulses just a bit. There was a really powerful moment that took me by surprise when the songs climatic group chant that usually the crowds sing back to the band, was instead replaced by the actual gang vocals from the album and bumped up a couple decibels. It was almost operatic and packed with emotion that just filled the room of everyone viewing it. And before we could even fully recover, Jake steps down to let JB Brubaker jump up and take center to shred his solo as the pyro danced behind him and the lights strobed around the stage.

Following Jake’s salsa dancing routine during Internal Cannon and the ruthlessness of Divisions, Cutting the Ties would be the bands next entry. This is one of those songs that is just like a roller coaster ride. It has its fun highs and lows with the occasional “hold your breath” turn. But as we climb our peak in the song you can feel the momentum start to get higher and faster. But just as we peer over the top, the words “BREAK FREE” rush in our ears as we descend into sheer chaos as compressed air detonates and this crushing breakdown shakes the ground under us. Pangaea would swap out Dustin Davidson and Brent Rambler on their respected instruments and gave Dustin his chance to show what he can do on a six string. And believe me, there was plenty more to come from him.

For Carpe Diem we would get a guest bass player with Rodney Phillips from This or the Apocalypse, now giving us three guitar players on this heavy hitter. Having that wall of sound for those crushing rhythm sections really created an element you don’t get often with live music. The other benefit is that it allowed the three of them to each play different rhythms at the same time, creating different layers that would normally only be feasible in the studio. But since the first time I heard this album, it’s always been about the slide in this song. JB Brubaker’s out of the box thinking that led him to add this in total contrast with the rest of the song is total genius. With the delay on it coupled with the few subtle notes he adds in, it really gave his slide work a voice of its own.

While some of the band go for guitar changes, Jake Luhrs addresses the crowd and dedicates Poor Millionaire to fellow singer Ryan Kirby of Fit for a King who had done guest vocals on the re-released version. As Matt Greiner starts his drum intro, every cymbal hit sets off a different combination of flames around him. This would be yet another opportunity for some of the guys to show off their dance moves as Dustin and Jake two step behind JB’s solo. Dustin soon goes on a finger tapping tirade in front of a wall of fire as his back drop making for an amazing image to witness. For the songs finale Greiner once again controls the fire around him with his drum kit, this time his floor tom hits would signal fireballs to launch from behind his kit. At one point he couldn’t help but laugh at the insanity going on around him.

The instrumental 1/16/2011 followed by the fast paced Boys of Fall would reveal one last song of the Leveler portion of the set, ironically donning the same name. Finishing the album and the show with a track like this is the very definition of ending on a high note. August Burns Red dumped everything they had in the tank throughout this song with endless energy and fury. You could hear it with every chug and rapid fire riff while Matt Greiner’s work behind the kit was even too fast for the lighting to keep up with. Jake Luhrs could lead an army into battle with his motivating vocal barrage and general like command on the mic as Leveler played over the troops. Throughout the song just about all of the 120 lights on stage were firing in every direction as the dragons breath would whip back and forth. But as the lights go down and the band walks off, Griener continues to hit away on his kit. I wonder what could be happening next.

Little did anyone see or realize is that Dustin had slid out and perched himself on his very own drum kit that had been setup in the shadows. It starts off innocent enough as both drummers mimic the other hit for hit. But things quickly escalated as Matt would run across his toms, Dustin would add in with the snare and cymbals making it all sound like one drummer was playing. Shortly after Dustin’s work on the cowbell which as we all know, we need more of, the battle of the skins would continue on. It was an all out percussive assault that even at its most intense moments every transition between the two were absolutely seamless and executed flawlessly. Many ABR fans have seen the seen the two duel it out on stage over the years, but what they did here tonight was just incredible. This is a group of amazingly talented musicians, hands down. But Dustin Davidson is one of the most well rounded musical talents I’ve ever seen and I’m sure his performance tonight had fans all over the world saying the same thing.

After all the applause subsides the band re-groups in front of the cameras as the familiar sounds of a classic ABR tune Meridian starts to take shape. This time around Jake would have the bass hanging from his shoulder as they unleash the break down riddled track. When the song wraps up JB Brubaker acknowledges the fact that there have now been 4 different bass players through out the show and jokes at “August Bass Red” being the new band name. To keep the Constellations theme going the band walks us into Thirty and Seven and right into another banger with Meddler. As the lights shining like stars above the fires below Brubaker and his signature kelly green Ibanez open up White Washed. Luhrs announces this will be the final song of the night. The band didn’t hold anything back as they let loose on every note and every scream. Through the final couple verses it’s amazing the stage was still standing as every light and fire box were erupting at the same time. But after their grand finale August Burns Red were all smiles and hugs as everyone off camera cheered and applauded them on the success of a truly epic performance.

With the bands first ever live stream back in November each performance grew bigger and more detailed than the last. Something about August Burns Red that has helped them become one of the best live bands in the world is the fact that they constantly evolve with their music and how they present it. They added pyro for the very first time for this show and had 120 lights surrounding the stage and it was the most visually intoxicating show I’ve ever seen them play. And it can’t go unsaid that August Burns Red’s crew deserve a ton of credit for their contributions to the shows success. Ray Duker for his incredible pre & post production video work and stunning photography of the show itself, David Summers, Victor Zeiser and Steve K who were responsible for the unbelievable lighting display and of course the team from Aurora Films who captured all of the amazing video footage. Just before the start of Leveler, Jake had mentioned that “Hopefully bring some joy and happiness and excitement for what’s to come. Because this year is going to be better than last, that’s for sure”. Well he wasn’t lying. August Burns Red has announced a 42 date U.S. tour that they will bring all the “Angry Music for Happy People” that we could possibly handle!