Leveler (album)

Leveler
Studio album by
August Burns Red
ReleasedJune 21, 2011 (2011-06-21)
RecordedFebruary 14 – March 16, 2011
GenreMelodic metalcore
Length48:12
LabelSolid State
ProducerJason Suecof
August Burns Red chronology
Home
(2010) 		Leveler
(2011) 		Sleddin' Hill
(2012)
Deluxe CD cover
August Burns Red Deluxe CD cover
Singles from Leveler
  1. "Empire"
    Released: May 27, 2011[1]
Singles from Leveler: 10th Anniversary Edition
  1. "Poor Millionaire"
    Released: April 21, 2021[2]
  2. "Pangaea"
    Released: May 6, 2021[3]

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]

Release and promotion

After 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

Leveler 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.

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(78/100)[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk85%[12]
Allmusic[13]
Alternative Press
Blare Magazine[14]
Christian Music Zine[15]
Jesus Freak Hideout[16]
Revolver[17]
Sputnikmusic[18]

10th anniversary edition

For 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

All tracks are written by August Burns Red

No.TitleLength
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
Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks[20]
No.TitleLength
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
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" 7inch Vinyl[21][22]
No.TitleLength
1."God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"2:51
2."Little Drummer Boy" (instrumental)4:24
Leveler: 10th Anniversary Edition
No.TitleLength
1."X" (instrumental)2:20
2."Empire"3:51
3."Internal Cannon" (featuring Matt Heafy)3:47
4."Divisions"3:23
5."Cutting the Ties"5:04
6."Pangaea" (featuring Misha Mansoor)4:30
7."Carpe Diem"5:42
8."40 Nights"3:56
9."Salt & Light"3:42
10."Poor Millionaire" (featuring Ryan Kirby of Fit for a King)4:50
11."1/16/2011" (instrumental)0:55
12."Boys of Fall"4:29
13."Leveler"4:46
Total length:51:15

Personnel

August 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, production, 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

  1. ^ "August Burns Red Empire (Single)". Spirit of Metal. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Kennelty, Greg (April 21, 2021). "AUGUST BURNS RED Streams Re-Recording Of 2011 Song "Poor Millionaire"". Metal Injection. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Childers, Chad (May 6, 2021). "August Burns Red Re-Record "Pangaea" With Misha Mansoor". Loudwire. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "Leveler Countdown". Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  5. ^ "August Burns Red: JB Brubaker Interview 2010". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  6. ^ "August Burns Red". August Burns Red. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  7. ^ Firecloud, Johnny (May 30, 2011). "Exclusive Premiere: August Burns Red - 'Internal Cannon'". CraveOnline. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  8. ^ "AUGUST BURNS RED: 'Internal Cannon' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. July 26, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  9. ^ "August Burns Red - "Divisions"". YouTube. June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  10. ^ "Poor Millionaire on official website". Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  11. ^ "Leveler by August Burns Red".
  12. ^ "AboslutePunk Review".
  13. ^ "Allmusic Review".
  14. ^ "REVIEW: August Burns Red – "Leveler"". Blaremagazine.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  15. ^ "August Burns Red – Leveler (Review)". Christianmusiczine.com. June 21, 2011. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  16. ^ "August Burns Red: Leveler". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "Review: August Burns Red – Leveler". Revolvermag.com. June 22, 2011. Archived from the original on May 6, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  18. ^ "August Burns Red: Leveler". Sputnikmusic.com. June 21, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  19. ^ Lewandowski, Nao (April 20, 2021). "August Burns Red announces 'Leveler: 10th Anniversary Edition,' due to release May 21". HM. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  20. ^ "August Burns Red: New Album Artwork, Track Listing Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. April 26, 2011. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "AUGUST BURNS RED 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' 7" Mixed White/Gold vinyl [limited edition]". CI Records. CI Records. October 21, 2011.
  23. ^ "Alternative Press | News | August Burns Red reveal cover art, tracklisting for "Leveler"". Altpress.com. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  24. ^ "Leveler – August Burns Red". AllMusic. June 21, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2012.