August Burns Red
August Burns Red is an American metalcore band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, formed in 2003. The group began their musical journey when high school friends, lead guitarist John Benjamin "JB" Brubaker, rhythm guitarist Brent Rambler, drummer Matt Greiner, vocalist Jon Hershey, and bassist Jordan Tuscan started creating music together. Hershey soon departed, replaced by Josh McManness and later by current vocalist Jake Luhrs.
Their name originates from an incident involving original vocalist Jon Hershey and his pet dog, August. The band's music is characterized by heavy riffs, technical guitar work, breakdowns, and a blend of screaming and clean vocals.
August Burns Red released their debut album, 'Thrill Seeker', in 2005, followed by 'Messengers' in 2007, which marked their breakthrough. With subsequent albums like 'Constellations' (2009), 'Leveler' (2011), 'Rescue & Restore' (2013), 'Found in Far Away Places' (2015), 'Phantom Anthem' (2017), and 'Guardians' (2020), they established themselves as a major force in the metalcore genre.
The band has been nominated for Grammy Awards twice, for Best Metal Performance, highlighting their significant impact on the music scene. Despite lineup changes and the challenges of evolving their sound, August Burns Red has maintained a consistent presence in the metalcore scene, known for their intense live performances and deeply personal lyrics.