Few bands have had the kind of lasting impact on modern metalcore that August Burns Red has achieved over the last two decades. Emerging from Pennsylvania’s heavy music scene in the early 2000s, the band helped redefine the genre by blending technical precision, melodic guitar work, crushing breakdowns, and progressive song structures into a sound that became instantly recognizable. While many metalcore bands shifted toward radio-friendly hard rock or electronic experimentation over time, August Burns Red stayed committed to their aggressive roots while continuously evolving musically. Albums like Messengers, Constellations, and Leveler became foundational releases for younger bands entering the scene, inspiring countless musicians with the intricate guitar interplay of JB Brubaker and Brent Rambler, Matt Greiner’s elite-level drumming, Dustin Davidson’s melodic bass work, and Jake Luhrs’ passionate vocal delivery. Their consistency and musicianship earned them a reputation as one of the genre’s most respected and dependable acts, with fans and critics often viewing them as standard-bearers for modern melodic metalcore. Online metal communities frequently praise the band’s ability to remain “true” to their sound while still sounding fresh, with many fans calling them one of the most consistent metalcore bands of their generation.
Their upcoming eleventh studio album, Season of Surrender, continues that legacy while pushing the band into even heavier territory. Scheduled for release on June 5, 2026 through Fearless Records, the record has already generated major excitement within the metalcore community thanks to singles like “Behemoth” and “The Nameless.” According to vocalist Jake Luhrs, the album is “rooted in traditional August Burns Red” and may be “the heaviest album” the band has written in years. Early descriptions of the record highlight a return to the punishing aggression and technical complexity that helped define the band’s classic era, while still incorporating the cinematic atmosphere and instrumental experimentation they’ve developed over recent albums. The album also features collaborations with notable figures from the modern metalcore scene, including Mike Hranica and Jamie Hails of Polaris, reinforcing August Burns Red’s continued influence across generations of heavy music. With Season of Surrender, the band appears poised to once again remind listeners why they remain one of the most important and enduring names in metalcore.
The moment the lights inside the The Fillmore Philadelphia dropped, the sold-out crowd erupted with the kind of deafening roar reserved only for hometown heavy music royalty. August Burns Red returned to Philadelphia like conquering heroes, and from the second the massive LED panels surrounding the stage flickered to life in blinding white and deep crimson tones, it became obvious the band intended to deliver something far beyond a standard metalcore performance. The towering digital screens wrapped around drummer Matt Greiner’s riser and stretched vertically across both sides of the stage, constantly shifting between storm-like visuals, distorted static, burning skylines, and synchronized flashes that pulsed directly with the breakdowns. Fans packed shoulder to shoulder across the floor before a single note was even played, chanting the band’s name while anticipation reached a fever pitch. When the opening riffs of “Meddler” exploded through the speakers, the room instantly detonated into movement. Crowd surfers launched over the barricade within seconds while circle pits opened across the center of the floor. Vocalist Jake Luhrs stormed onto the stage with relentless energy, commanding the audience like a seasoned veteran while lead guitarist JB Brubaker and rhythm guitarist Brent Rambler stood side-by-side unleashing the song’s razor-sharp riffs with surgical precision. Dustin Davidson’s bass thundered beneath the mix while his backing vocals added another layer of aggression that shook the venue from wall to wall.
As “Meddler” came to an end, Jake paced across the front of the stage looking out over the sea of raised fists and screaming fans before thanking Philadelphia for always supporting the band throughout their career. The hometown connection between August Burns Red and the crowd felt especially powerful throughout the evening, with fans screaming nearly every lyric back toward the stage. Without wasting a second, Matt Greiner launched into the opening drum assault of “Back Burner,” immediately igniting one of the largest pits of the night. The Fillmore’s entire floor became a whirlwind of bodies colliding under flashing red strobes pouring from the LED panels overhead. JB Brubaker’s lead work sounded impossibly tight live, every technical passage cutting cleanly through the chaos while Brent Rambler’s crushing rhythm tone gave the song enormous weight. Jake Luhrs stalked the edge of the stage screaming into the faces of fans pressed against the barricade, feeding directly off the room’s intensity. Every time the breakdowns hit, the crowd responded with explosive force, creating the kind of violent yet communal energy that has become synonymous with an August Burns Red show. The chemistry between all five musicians was undeniable, with the band moving like a perfectly synchronized machine despite the overwhelming aggression of the performance.
Midway through the set, the LED panels suddenly dimmed into icy blue tones before shifting into swirling storm imagery as Jake introduced “The Nameless,” one of the standout tracks from the band’s upcoming album Season of Surrender. The crowd roared with excitement at the mention of new material, and the live debut absolutely justified the anticipation surrounding the record. “The Nameless” carried the classic August Burns Red formula of technical chaos and emotionally charged melody while simultaneously sounding darker and heavier than much of their recent work. Jake’s vocals sounded especially vicious during the song’s crushing midsection while Dustin Davidson’s melodic backing vocals added haunting contrast throughout the chorus passages. The LED screens displayed fractured monochrome imagery synchronized perfectly with the song’s shifting tempo changes, giving the entire performance a cinematic atmosphere. Even though the track was relatively new, large portions of the audience already knew the lyrics, screaming along with Jake as the band tore through one of the heaviest songs of the night. The response from the crowd made it clear that Season of Surrender is already resonating deeply with longtime fans eager for the band’s return to a more aggressive sound.
Without pause, August Burns Red transitioned directly into “Behemoth,” another devastating new track from Season of Surrender, and the energy inside The Fillmore somehow escalated even further. The song’s opening riff hit with unbelievable force as blinding white lights erupted across the stage in synchronization with Matt Greiner’s thunderous drumming. Greiner once again proved why he is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers in modern metalcore, effortlessly navigating impossible fills and punishing double bass patterns while maintaining total control of the performance. The LED walls behind the band flashed massive distorted visuals of collapsing buildings and erupting flames that amplified the song’s apocalyptic atmosphere. Jake Luhrs repeatedly urged the audience to “open this place up,” and Philadelphia responded immediately with enormous circle pits spreading from one side of the venue to the other. The live version of “Behemoth” sounded even heavier than the studio recording, with the breakdown near the end creating one of the loudest crowd reactions of the night. Fans hurled themselves into the pit while others climbed onto shoulders screaming every word back toward the stage. The song demonstrated exactly why fans online have already begun calling Season of Surrender one of the band’s heaviest releases in years.
As the set continued, the band pivoted toward older fan favorites, unleashing “Bloodletter” with absolutely savage intensity. The LED panels shifted toward blood-red visuals dripping downward like digital waterfalls while Jake Luhrs delivered the song with terrifying aggression. Every breakdown landed with devastating impact, and the audience responded by throwing themselves headfirst into the chaos. What separates August Burns Red from many of their peers, however, is their remarkable musicianship amidst such brutality. JB Brubaker’s intricate lead guitar melodies floated above Brent Rambler’s punishing rhythm work while Dustin Davidson locked everything together with thunderous precision. The sheer tightness of the band live remains astonishing considering the complexity of their music. Even during the heaviest moments, every note sounded razor sharp. The crowd’s energy never dipped for a second, with wave after wave of crowd surfers pouring toward the barricade while security struggled to keep pace. Jake repeatedly leaned into the audience allowing fans to scream lyrics directly into the microphone, creating an atmosphere that felt deeply personal despite the venue’s size.
One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before “The Eleventh Hour,” when Jake Luhrs paused to address the audience and specifically called for an all-female mosh pit. The crowd responded with thunderous cheers as women flooded toward the center of the floor while Jake spoke passionately about inclusivity within the metal scene and making everyone feel welcome at August Burns Red shows. As soon as the opening riff hit, the pit exploded into motion with overwhelming energy and enthusiasm. The moment felt genuinely empowering and perfectly reflected the positive culture the band has spent years cultivating around their live performances. Matt Greiner’s drumming during “The Eleventh Hour” was absolutely relentless, propelling the song forward with machine-like precision while JB and Brent traded crushing riffs across opposite sides of the stage. The LED visuals shifted rapidly between white strobes and chaotic glitch effects that intensified every breakdown. Jake spent much of the song crouched near the barricade screaming directly alongside fans while Dustin Davidson moved constantly across the stage delivering backing vocals with incredible force. The sense of unity inside The Fillmore during that performance was overwhelming, demonstrating why August Burns Red continues to maintain such a fiercely loyal fanbase more than twenty years into their career.
The emotional core of the evening arrived during “Empire” and “Exhumed,” two songs that showcased the band’s ability to balance technical ferocity with genuine emotional depth. During “Empire,” the LED panels displayed collapsing cityscapes and dark storm imagery that matched the song’s themes of struggle and perseverance. Jake Luhrs delivered every lyric with complete conviction while the audience screamed nearly every word back at him. The connection between band and crowd felt almost spiritual at times, especially during the soaring melodic sections where thousands of voices united together. “Exhumed” followed with equal intensity, its crushing riffs and atmospheric passages shaking the entire building. JB Brubaker’s guitar work during the song was particularly mesmerizing, weaving melodic leads through the chaos while Brent Rambler anchored the performance with monstrous rhythm tones. Dustin Davidson’s backing vocals added incredible texture throughout the performance, giving the songs additional emotional weight. Even after years of touring, the band still performed with the hunger and passion of musicians trying to prove themselves for the very first time.
As the night progressed toward its climax, the opening notes of “Marianas Trench” triggered one of the loudest reactions The Fillmore produced all evening. The song’s massive build-up created an almost cinematic tension inside the venue while the LED screens transformed into deep ocean visuals and collapsing waves of blue light. The audience collectively screamed the song’s iconic melodic sections while Matt Greiner delivered an absolutely jaw-dropping performance behind the kit. The technical precision required to perform “Marianas Trench” live is staggering, yet the band executed every transition flawlessly. Jake Luhrs repeatedly stepped back from the microphone allowing the crowd to carry entire sections on their own, creating a deafening singalong that echoed throughout the building. By this point in the set, nearly every person inside the venue appeared exhausted, drenched in sweat, and completely exhilarated, yet the energy somehow continued building with each passing song. August Burns Red’s ability to maintain that level of intensity for an entire performance remains one of the defining reasons they continue to dominate the modern metalcore landscape.
The spotlight eventually shifted solely toward Matt Greiner for the evening’s spectacular drum solo, but even this moment became a full-band showcase of creativity and chemistry. While Greiner unleashed an astonishing barrage of fills, blast beats, and impossible rhythmic patterns behind the kit, JB Brubaker, Dustin Davidson, and Brent Rambler gathered together at the front of the stage performing synchronized percussive rhythms on floor toms. And in the most metal of moments, Jake Luhrs emerged from side stage and jumps on the center riser toting a triangle in hand. The vocal titan applied five gentle hits as Brubaker held fast with the mic in place to capture the subtle chimes. The visual presentation became mesmerizing as the LED panels flashed in perfect synchronization with every strike. Greiner’s technical mastery was on full display throughout the solo, seamlessly blending raw power with unbelievable precision and creativity. The crowd watched in awe before erupting into chants of “Matt! Matt! Matt!” once the solo concluded. It served as a reminder that every member of August Burns Red contributes something uniquely essential to the band’s sound and live presentation. Their chemistry after more than two decades together feels completely natural and deeply authentic, which only strengthens the power of their performances.
For the final stretch of the night, August Burns Red delivered two of the most beloved songs in their catalog: “Composure” and “White Washed.” The opening of “Composure” instantly triggered a massive singalong as fans screamed every lyric with overwhelming emotion. Jake Luhrs held the microphone out toward the audience repeatedly while the LED panels exploded with bright gold and white visuals behind the band. The performance felt triumphant, almost celebratory, as if both band and fans understood they were sharing something genuinely special together. Then came “White Washed,” the inevitable closer that transformed The Fillmore into complete chaos. The moment the iconic opening riff began, the crowd erupted one final time into endless crowd surfing, circle pits, and screaming singalongs. Jake Luhrs stood at center stage soaking in the moment while JB Brubaker and Brent Rambler unleashed the song’s legendary riff work with flawless execution. Matt Greiner’s drumming thundered through the venue like artillery fire while Dustin Davidson’s backing vocals elevated the choruses into arena-sized moments. As the final breakdown crashed through the speakers and the LED panels flashed blinding white one last time, the members of August Burns Red gathered together at the front of the stage, visibly grateful for the overwhelming response from their hometown crowd. The performance at The Fillmore was more than just another stop on a tour — it was a powerful reminder of why August Burns Red remains one of the most respected, influential, and electrifying bands in modern metalcore.
