Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


August Burns Red, Phantom Sessions EP
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

August Burns Red
Phantom Sessions EP



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Metal / Alternative
Album length: 5 tracks: 21 minutes, 33 seconds
Street Date: February 8, 2019


READER RATING:   


The workhorses that make up Christian metalcore's most consistent band, August Burns Red, sound shockingly (and enjoyably) refreshed on their latest EP. Coming quickly off of the holiday EP, Winter Wilderness, Phantom Sessions functions as a b-sides to 2017's Phantom Anthem, an extremely solid effort that perhaps left a smaller impact than we'd come to expect from the quintet. That observation makes Sessions an even greater surprise, boasting five energized, inspired, and largely instrumental tracks.

Opening number "Midnight" is top-tier August Burns Red, sounding just as good as anything from the preceding LP, yet also brighter, as if the band is simply having fun, while also incorporating some of the "happy hardcore" guitar riffs displayed most prominently in the past on Leveler. The fun continues on the band's interpretation of the famous video game theme "The Legend of Zelda," a blast of a tune that should please both fans of the band and the game franchise.

As a change of pace, "Laniakea" (named after the galaxy supercluster) is a magical recording -- one where vocalist Jake Luhrs tastefully waits for half of the song before making a brief appearance. The whole tone and atmosphere of this song, which beautifully balances being both soft and heavy, as well as being an abnormally short song for the band, seems like new territory, and I would personally love to hear more like this from the band in the future.

The final two tracks connect Phantom Sessions more directly to its namesake, with an acoustic reprise of "Coordinates" and a MIDI recreation of the single, "The Frost." These tracks threaten to enter into true-fans-only territory, but "Frost" is as solid as MIDI songs come, and "Coordinates" is just as exciting and twisty-turny as the original version. As a minor complaint, the acoustic guitars sound thin and tinny, but that doesn't detract from the reprise being a lovely work overall.

While no official announcement has been made, ABR's consistent pattern of releasing a new album every other year means we should (hopefully) be receiving something later in 2019, and the ingenuity and energy that's exemplified throughout this EP suggests that the band might have another album just as great as Rescue & Restore hidden up their sleeves.

- Review date: 3/31/19, written by Chase Tremaine of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

JFH Staff's Second Opinion



I’ve always known August Burns Red to be one of the most technically proficient and impressive metal bands of the last decade or so. But until very recently, I never found myself actually enjoying their music. Very suddenly, it all just clicked. Phantom Sessions isn’t a full, traditional ABR album, but rather acts more like a b-sides release that showcases the different layers of musicianship of the group. The opener is a fast and furious track that sounds like it could have been on Phantom Anthem, which is followed by a fantastic rendition of the theme from my favorite video game franchise, The Legend of Zelda. It also includes the dungeon theme from the original game. This track sounds like it was made for the Hyrule Warriors spin-off. On the subject of video games, the MIDI version of “The Frost” sounds perfect for a Mega Man game, and it’s a really fun listen. The middle tracks, “Laniakea” and “Coordinates - Reprise,” give us a great taste of their non-metal musicianship, with some atmospheric indie music, piano balladry, and a wide range of other influences. Phantom Sessions isn’t a full album experience, but if you’re somehow unfamiliar with the band, this will show you what they’re capable of. - Review date: 3/15/19, Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

. Record Label: Fearless Records
. Album length: 5 tracks: 21 minutes, 33 seconds
. Street Date: February 8, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com (Vinyl)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Midnight (4:29)
  2. The Legend Of Zelda (4:08)
  3. Laniakea (2:58)
  4. Coordinates (Reprise) (5:18)
  5. The Frost (Midi) (4:39)

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, May 27, 2025
ALBUMS
REFVGE R A I N . C H E C K - EP [Syntax]

This Wednesday, May 28, 2025
ALBUMS
Meadows For a Good & Faithful Servant [Facedown]

SINGLES
goodwill. Another Life - Single [Syntax]
Drenae I'm Different - Single [Syntax]

This Thursday, May 29, 2025
SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Sweet Jesus Knows - Single [Equal Vision]
Datin & C4 Crotona FORWARD MARCH - Single [Syntax]

This Friday, May 30, 2025
ALBUMS
Bongo Chico Bongo Chico (independent)
Morgan Cryar Fuel on the Fire (Remastered Collector's Edition) [Girder]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (CD) [BEC]
Lakewood Music Nothing Is Over - EP [Capitol CMG]
Lazarus Casket Spiritual Warfare - EP [Charon Collective]
Newsboys Worldwide Revival (Deluxe) [Capitol CMG]
Jon Reddick No Fear [Gotee]
Slow Salvation Gemini [Velvet Blue]
Tenth Avenue North Learning To Trust [The Fuel]
Wolves At The Gate Wasteland [Solid State]

SINGLES
Bethel Music Inhabit (Live) - Single [Bethel]
Chris Caro Totally Surrender - Single [Syntax]
Franni Cash Koolaid - Single [Capitol CMG]
Coqui Death to Your Ego - Single [DREAM]
Eauclaire You Me The Kids - Single [NCS]
Chris Ekiss WILD! - Single [Provident]
Jimmy Fortune Thank God for Mama and Daddy - Single [Gaither]
Lora Kelley Will You Hold My Arms Up? - Single (independent)
Will Kellum Psalm 23 - Single [Syntax]
Lizzie Morgan Let The Alabaster Break - Single [Provident]
Ryan Ofei Oluwa Ese - Single (independent)
Prodi Da Prodigal Save Me ft. Alcott - Single [Syntax]
QEW MUK. - Single [Syntax]
Rave Jesus + Thalia Tu Amor - Single [Provident]
Rusty Shipp Espionage - Single (independent)
Saints In Exile Becoming the Villain (Instrumental) - Single [Syntax]
SEU Dwell - Single [Provident]
Shane & Shane Light of the World Medley - Single (independent)
Stars Go Dim G.I.R.L. (God In Real Life) - Single [Curb]
Tds Cam Blind Will Lead The Blind - Single [Syntax]
TobyMac Oh My Soul (feat. CeCe Winans) - Single [Capitol CMG]
VoxMusic So I'll Praise - Single (independent)
Phil Wickham Homesick for Heaven - Single [Fair Trade]

Next Friday, June 6, 2025
ALBUMS
CCV Hollow (Deluxe) (independent)
Ben Fuller Walk Through Fire [Provident]

SINGLES
Aaron Cole NOBODY BUT GOD - Single [Provident]
Equippers Worship Living in Freedom (Live) - Single [DREAM]
Good Weather Forecast Pray - Single [DREAM]
Brandon Lake Daddy's DNA [Provident]

VINYL
Ironwrath Master Storyteller Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images