Leveler is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band August Burns Red. It was released on June 21, 2011, through Solid State Records and was produced by Jason Suecof.[4]
Leveler | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 21, 2011 | |||
Recorded | February 14 – March 16, 2011 | |||
Genre | Melodic metalcore | |||
Length | 48:12 | |||
Label | Solid State | |||
Producer | Jason Suecof | |||
August Burns Red chronology | ||||
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Deluxe CD cover | ||||
Singles from Leveler | ||||
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Singles from Leveler: 10th Anniversary Edition | ||||
Release and promotion
editAfter spending nearly a year touring in support of Constellations, lead guitarist JB Brubaker announced on July 27, 2010 that the band would be taking a break from touring to begin work on a new album.[5] The band announced that writing for their fourth album was completed on February 12, 2011 and planned to start production two days later. The album's name was revealed the following month.[6]
They released the first song, "Empire", on May 16, 2011 on their Facebook page. It was announced on May 14, 2011 that they were shooting a video for "Internal Cannon". They released "Internal Cannon" on May 31, 2011 via Craveonline.com.[7] The "Internal Cannon" video was filmed at an abandoned water pumping station in rural New Jersey that was located four stories underground.[8] They released "Divisions",[9] June 4, 2011 on YouTube and promoted it through their Facebook page. "Poor Millionaire", the ninth track from the album, was released June 14, 2011 on their official website.[10]
Commercial performance
editLeveler sold around 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart.[citation needed]
As with their previous album, a special, Christmas seven-inch vinyl single will be released with the album through their old label, CI Records, and will be entitled "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". The vinyl is limited to 1000 copies, 400 that are gold-colored, 400 that are white, and 200 that are mixed white-and-gold. The single was released on November 8, 2011.
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | (78/100)[11] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AbsolutePunk | 85%[12] |
Allmusic | [13] |
Alternative Press | |
Blare Magazine | [14] |
Christian Music Zine | [15] |
Jesus Freak Hideout | [16] |
Revolver | [17] |
Sputnikmusic | [18] |
10th anniversary edition
editFor the album's 10th anniversary, the band re-recorded it with guest musicians, alternate tunings, and new guitar solos. The anniversary edition was released on May 21, 2021, through the band's own label, ABR Records.[19] On April 21, the same day as the announcement of the 10th anniversary edition, the band released a new version of "Poor Millionaire" featuring guest vocals from Ryan Kirby of Fit for a King.[2] On May 6, they released a new version of "Pangaea", that features a guest guitar solo from Misha Mansoor of Periphery, as the second single from the 10th anniversary edition.[3]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by August Burns Red
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Empire" | 3:52 |
2. | "Internal Cannon" | 3:46 |
3. | "Divisions" | 3:20 |
4. | "Cutting the Ties" | 5:02 |
5. | "Pangaea" | 4:20 |
6. | "Carpe Diem" | 5:37 |
7. | "40 Nights" | 3:54 |
8. | "Salt & Light" | 3:40 |
9. | "Poor Millionaire" | 4:28 |
10. | "01/16/2011" (instrumental) | 0:52 |
11. | "Boys of Fall" | 4:28 |
12. | "Leveler" | 4:47 |
Total length: | 48:12 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Internal Cannon" (acoustic) | 5:05 |
14. | "Pangaea" (performed by Bells) | 6:22 |
15. | "Boys of Fall" (performed by Zachery Veilleux) | 4:01 |
16. | "Empire" (MIDI) | 3:49 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" | 2:51 |
2. | "Little Drummer Boy" (instrumental) | 4:24 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "X" (instrumental) | 2:20 |
2. | "Empire" | 3:51 |
3. | "Internal Cannon" (featuring Matthew K. Heafy) | 3:47 |
4. | "Divisions" | 3:23 |
5. | "Cutting the Ties" | 5:04 |
6. | "Pangaea" (featuring Misha "Bulb" Mansoor) | 4:30 |
7. | "Carpe Diem" | 5:42 |
8. | "40 Nights" | 3:56 |
9. | "Salt & Light" | 3:42 |
10. | "Poor Millionaire" (featuring Ryan Kirby) | 4:50 |
11. | "1/16/2011" (instrumental) | 0:55 |
12. | "Boys of Fall" | 4:29 |
13. | "Leveler" | 4:46 |
Total length: | 51:15 |
Personnel
editAugust Burns Red[23]
- Jake Luhrs – lead vocals
- JB Brubaker – lead guitar
- Brent Rambler – rhythm guitar
- Dustin Davidson – bass, backing vocals, additional guitar, pre-production
- Matt Greiner – drums, piano
Additional musicians
- Jason Suecof – percussion, additional guitar, producer, mixing
Additional personnel[24]
- Troy Glessner – mastering
- Eyal Levi – additional mixing
- Jonathan Dunn and Adam Skatula – A&R
- Jordan Crane – illustrations
- Invisible Creature – art direction
- Ryan Clark – design
- Cory Morton – band photography
References
edit- ^ "August Burns Red Empire (Single)". Spirit of Metal. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
- ^ a b Kennelty, Greg (April 21, 2021). "AUGUST BURNS RED Streams Re-Recording Of 2011 Song "Poor Millionaire"". Metal Injection. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Childers, Chad (May 6, 2021). "August Burns Red Re-Record "Pangaea" With Misha Mansoor". Loudwire. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ^ "Leveler Countdown". Retrieved May 4, 2011.
- ^ "August Burns Red: JB Brubaker Interview 2010". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- ^ "August Burns Red". August Burns Red. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- ^ Firecloud, Johnny (May 30, 2011). "Exclusive Premiere: August Burns Red - 'Internal Cannon'". CraveOnline. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
- ^ "AUGUST BURNS RED: 'Internal Cannon' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. July 26, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ "August Burns Red - "Divisions"". YouTube. June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
- ^ "Poor Millionaire on official website". Retrieved June 14, 2011.
- ^ "Leveler by August Burns Red".
- ^ "AboslutePunk Review".
- ^ "Allmusic Review".
- ^ "REVIEW: August Burns Red – "Leveler"". Blaremagazine.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ^ "August Burns Red – Leveler (Review)". Christianmusiczine.com. June 21, 2011. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "August Burns Red: Leveler". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ^ "Review: August Burns Red – Leveler". Revolvermag.com. June 22, 2011. Archived from the original on May 6, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ^ "August Burns Red: Leveler". Sputnikmusic.com. June 21, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ^ Lewandowski, Nao (April 20, 2021). "August Burns Red announces 'Leveler: 10th Anniversary Edition,' due to release May 21". HM. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ^ "August Burns Red: New Album Artwork, Track Listing Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. April 26, 2011. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011.
- ^ "AUGUST BURNS RED 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' 7" White -AND- Gold vinyl [limited edition]". CI Records. CI Records. October 21, 2011. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012.
- ^ "AUGUST BURNS RED 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' 7" Mixed White/Gold vinyl [limited edition]". CI Records. CI Records. October 21, 2011.
- ^ "Alternative Press | News | August Burns Red reveal cover art, tracklisting for "Leveler"". Altpress.com. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
- ^ "Leveler – August Burns Red". AllMusic. June 21, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2012.