AUGUST BURNS RED Season Of Surrender REVIEW + Albums RANKED
In this video, we’re ranking every album by August Burns Red from Thrill Seeker all the way through Season Of Surrender! From classic metalcore staples like Messengers and Constellations to the progressive experimentation of Found In Far Away Places and Phantom Anthem, we’re diving deep into one of the most consistent discographies in modern heavy music.
Which ABR album is YOUR favorite? Did Constellations deserve the top spot, or are you riding for Messengers, Rescue & Restore, or the new record Season Of Surrender? Drop your ranking in the comments!
@augustburnsred #augustburnsred #metalcore #newalbums @fearlessrecords
00:00 – Thrill Seeker (2005)
01:37 – Messengers (2007)
02:45 – Constellations (2009)
03:46 – Leveler (2011)
05:06 – Rescue & Restore (2013)
06:44 – Found In Far Away Places (2015)
08:21 – Phantom Anthem (2017)
10:06 – Guardians (2020)
11:47 – Death Below (2023)
14:05 – Season Of Surrender (2026)
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I do not own the rights to any of the featured song clips on this video. All credit to the artists and labels with specific permission granted. These fall under fair use based on sufficient transformation for the purpose of review, promotion, and commentary.
@joethomas6255
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
The one band that should only have 3 tiers perfection fantastic and amazing lol
@deadbod9306
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
I’m saying fantastic tier to perfection ..best ABR album in a minute . As you said though it’s definitely a callback..I’m a huge fan of Constellations , Rescue and Restore and Leveler
@kevinkraftable
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
i disagree. Death Below is when they let me down. its their most generic sounding album and no matter how many times i listen to it i cant get into any song on the album.
@WetCheeseSlice-q5z
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
New album and last album are both meh.
@apoplexiamusic
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
This band is awesome!
Hey, now that Martyr's (the one from Québec) 3 albums have been remixed, remastered and rereleased by Relapse Records (tried to go for an epic alliteration here) it would be awesome to have a video about them! Especially considering their influence on bands like Revocation and Archspire.
@KyleDanielson42
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Messengers is GOATed in my book, Thrill Seeker and Constellations close behind, but otherwise generally agree with your rankings. Solid tier list.
@BrandonM.N
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Messengers is the 🐐
@scottsonderman6115
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
A band that has never let me down!! Legends
@WilliamD-i6m
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Doing a rundown of worse buttrock albums from metal bands would be very interesting to watch
@jltroxell278
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
August Burns Red is the Bolt Thrower of metalcore. Flawless discography.
@tamamakiiti587
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
this band rules, and every time I listen to them it sends me down a rabbit hole of reminiscing on high school bands… Will you dare to touch a TDWP discog tier list when they go again? If ABR are the picture of consistency, TDWP is, well… Not 😄
@aydenkaszas
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Where did that intro come from 🤣
@alexchavarria2582
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Thanks dude, love your channel
@chrisbach2576
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Killswitch Engage and War of Ages are the only metalcore bands I listen to with regularity. ABR has always had dull guitar tones to me. That said, the new album seems to correct that and each single has been jaw-dropping and great for the gym.
@nick-r8o8w
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Leveler is their Vol 3 album. Not rated high by fans but is genuinely underrated. And yes I understand Vol 3 has 2 of Slipknots most popular songs but outside of those, a lot of the songs are insanely under appreciated, just like how i feel with Leveler
@MetalWV
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Love ABR. Pure musicianship.
@michaelkozma5929
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Great breakdown man thank you for doing these… This band has really gotten me through some shit through the years.
Ever since the first day I heard them on Thrill Seeker I knew they were different.
@daviddr115111
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Crazy that this band has no real weak albums. Even the Christmas album is a banger. This and kse are probably the best metalcore bands and abr is one of the best metal bands imo.
@tomnailor
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Just realized I slept for eight years. Lost track at around 2017. What a pity
@CureEclipse11
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
My sound-off is this: I think that Rescue & Restore is their worst album. I've despised it since it came out…as an example, the trumpet or all the other inserts are, to me, kinda "cringe".
@coilfan09
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Might have to make this the next discography I listen to I’ve heard stuff here and there but always been very meh. Always seen them as a “we have killswitch at home” band
@Robert048
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
I'm still so blown away by Death Below.
@HKisPro
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Always love these videos/your channel!
@joef7801
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
0:54 I come for the musical recommendations, I stay for the fitting Simpsons and other movie clips 😂🤣 Great work, Icarus! 👌
@ryancadwell1910
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
My only issue with your ranking is that you didn't put Leveler at perfection. I think that it really is their best album overall with the most variety. But they have so many good albums that I'm not too mad about it
@MarryMeSenpai
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Damn I've been sleeping on ABR haven't really listened to much past constellations
@netsrac8997
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Sick thumbnail work
@theovermatt
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
I like but don't love most metalcore and August Burns Red has always been one of the big exceptions to that, thanks in no small part to the riffs. Loved the tracks they released so far from Season, can't wait to hear it tomorrow.
@Wernershnitzl
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Cannot wait for Season of Surrender to drop tomorrow! As for Leveler, I also kind of agree at least for the original production that it doesn't sound as dynamic as the albums released around it–however, their 10th anniversary redux fixed a lot of my criticisms and the guest features were excellent.
I agree with majority of your list! I also go back and forth between Constellations and Found In Far Away Places as my two favorites, (absolute rippers both—Constellations with a tight tone and FIFAP with the ambitious variety experimentation) with Death Below a close third. I'm also coming around on Phantom Anthem, but it doesn't hook me the same as the others–although the Quake melody is too good.
@nicatgames2368
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
how many albums do you listen every day to be able to relisten to so many bands' discographies
@Moldycheese328
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
on april 1st you should make a ranking for a band that everyone loves and put all the albums in an awful tier
@tingachhakchhuak6083
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Can always count on Metal Trenches reviews when it comes to my favourite band.
@stefannedic6627
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Is "10/10 albums" video coming soon?
@Matty_Highland_1992
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
August Burns Red was introduced to me in 2005, by someone I was friends with on MySpace. I was super put off by them at first, because my 13 year old ears couldn't understand what the hell I was listening too. But the curiosity was there and I gave them another listen too. As far as I can remember, 'Barbarian' is the first song of theirs that I have ever listened to. From there on out, I was hooked. So therefore, I must give my rankings:
1.) Messengers
2.) Phantom Anthem
3.) Rescue & Restore
4.) Found in Far Away Places
5.) Leveler
6.) Constellations
7.) Death Below
8.) Thrill Seeker
9.) Guardians
Now, I will give you my rankings on what I consider to be their best to "worst" (Lol…such a dumb word for this discography) albums:
1.) Phantom Anthem
2.) Rescue & Restore
3.) Death Below
4.) Messengers
5.) Found in Far Away Places
6.) Constellations
7.) Leveler
8.) Thrill Seeker
9.) Guardians
Now, I already know I'm going to have a bunch of so called "ABR" fans come at me in the replies saying, "Bro, ur so wrong! Constellations is their best album and it's not even close! Ur list is pointless and meaningless!" Argue with a wall buddy. I love all of their albums, but Constellations is by far their most overrated album. Rescue & Restore probably has the greatest opening track of any of their albums, to me, as well. Death Below & Messengers kind of bounce back and forth between #3 & #4 for me, so in a way, they're pretty much tied.
It's crazy that I've been listening to these guys non-stop for 21 years. I know I won't get another 21 years with these guys, so as long as they're around and kickin' it, I'm gonna blow my eardrums out!
P.S. – 'Composure' is my favorite song of all time, and 'Float' might be their most underrated song of all time. Also, Jon Hershey is their original vocalist and did everything from the earlier Demos, up until, Looks Fragile After All.
@My_knob
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
I still think abr kinda botched the album art of death below. they had a pretty signature style but they instead went with ai and came up with something pretty garish
@aaronfriesen7557
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
So good. So consistent. Great video
@mindful2864
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
I'm so glad to have finally got an August Burns Red shirt and it's one that is based off of the Phantom Anthem artwork. August Burns Red is just one of the best and most consistent metalcore bands and I can't wait for their new album tomorrow. As for my ranking, it would go:
S – Messengers, Constellations, Leveler
A+ – Rescue & Restore, Found in Far Away Places, Phantom Anthem, Death Below
A – Thrill Seeker, Sleddin' Hill, Guardians
@thatswhutyourmomsaid
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
August burns red should make a shirt that says “is rather be listening to as I lay dying” 😂
@lnkeeper
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Love their more progressive stuff but it’s super nice to get a more straight forward record from these guys. I kinda wonder if Guardians was a result of the pandemic. There’s this feeling of exhaustion and burnout to it.
@xBroskix
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
meddler will always be the perfect metalcore song in my option
@Granhall124
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Ive listened to Thrill Seeker and Constellations. The latter was a massive improvement and they really do this collection of breakdowns/melodic leads/call outs/soloing/chugs very well, but their songwriting is very bland imo. The single Behemoth got me pumped tho, ill listen to their new one, maybe they finally click
@Caindemigod
June 5, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Here's my ranking as a groove fan without the new one, 1. Death Below (2023)
2. Guardians (2020)
3. Constellations (2009)
4. Phantom Anthem (2017)
5. Messengers (2007)
6. Leveler (2011)
7. Found In Far Away Places (2015)
8. Rescure & Restore (2013)
9. Thrill Seeker (2005)
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