Thrill Seeker: 20th Anniversary - August Burns Red
I have been looking forward to this album release since August Burns Red first teased it a few months ago. It’s exciting to sit down and begin my review after listening to both the original recording and now this re-recording more times than I can count on one hand! The 20th-anniversary release of Thrill Seeker is much more than a simple reissue. The band took their time, painstakingly re-recording their first record, finding a way to not mess with the classic recipe of the original while still elevating the songs. The sound is punchier and tighter here, allowing you to hear the progress the band has made as musicians. There is also a warmer low-end sound to it that fleshes it out more than the original, which is to be expected 20 years later. One of the most distinctive differences between the two releases is the vocals. The original recording, released in November of 2005, saw Josh McManness at the helm (the band’s second vocalist). Shortly after the band’s first tour, Josh departed and was replaced by Jake Luhrs, who has been the band’s vocalist since. Jake’s vocal style has evolved with each release, and he brings an extra depth to the sound that was missing from the original recording. That’s not a sleight against Josh, it’s just that Jake has now been doing this for 20+ years and has a lot more to offer now.
The original recording was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz (a name that should be very familiar to Metalcore fans and anyone who has been following my Metalcore Masterpieces series) and was originally met with mixed to positive reviews. Reviewers felt it wasn’t “original” and “didn’t add much to the Metalcore scene.” This sentiment seems pretty wild to me, as the genre was starting to see an explosion of mainstream success and August Burns Red was breathing new life into a genre that hadn’t been shaken up much during the 80s and 90s. It seems more likely the band got lost in the shuffle considering who else was coming up at the same time as them (Killswitch Engage, Bullet for My Valentine, Trivium, All That Remains, and As I Lay Dying to name a few) and the fact that the band was comprised of some high school farm boys from rural Pennsylvania rather than one of the major Metal cities.
“Your Little Suburbia is in Ruins” is one of the first tracks I want to highlight for this album. The lead guitar riff stands out the most and I especially love the relentless riff at about 1:51. Dustin’s backing high screams at 2:55 are especially nasty and a welcome addition not found on the original recording. “Speech Impediment” has Adam Dutkiewicz guest and drop a gnarly guitar solo in the middle of the track. I was happy to see him featured since he produced the original recording. Matt’s drumming is also a standout for me, effortlessly bouncing from fast feet on the kick drum, flashy fills, and slowed-down methodical playing. Jake runs an absolute vocal clinic on “Too Late for Roses”. His vocals are easily the highlight of the track, with his transitions from mid to low screams and the occasional spoken scream that he excels at propelling the song to a higher level while the rest of the band delivers a fast and thunderous performance. There’s a break about 2 minutes in for a build-up that leads into a simple breakdown riddled with brutal low screams from Jake. Finally, “Barbarian” has my favorite lead guitar riff on the album, leaning more into the genre’s Hardcore roots. Josh McManness makes his grand return on guest vocals, not skipping a beat and sliding back in effortlessly as if it hasn’t been 20 years.
Thrill Seeker was an album I did not pay much attention to while I was getting into the scene. I don’t blame the record itself for that; my introduction to the band was Messengers and Constellations, which were inherently stronger records than Thrill Seeker, so my attention remained there. I always felt that Thrill Seeker was less polished than the other two albums I fell in love with. It was a joy to be able to come back to this album with a fresh coat of paint and a new perspective, allowing me to appreciate it significantly more this time. August Burns Red managed to make a 20-year-old record sound like a brand-new 2025 release, and that is no easy task.