Constellations is the third studio album by American metalcore band August Burns Red. It was released on July 14, 2009, through Solid State Records and was produced by Jason Suecof.
Fans regard the guitar solo in "Marianas Trench" as being among the best in the metalcore genre, according to Loudwire.
Contents
Recording and music
On February 24, 2009 August Burns Red announced they were working on a new album, with producer Jason Suecof at his "Audio Hammer" studio in Orlando, Florida.
The album's music has drawn comparisons to Darkest Hour, Bury Your Dead and the new wave of British heavy metal.
When asked about his drumming on the album Matt Greiner stated "There’s faster stuff than ever on Constellations and slower stuff than ever on Constellations."
The song "Indonesia", which features guest vocals from Tommy Giles Rogers of Between the Buried and Me, was made as a tribute to David Clapper, a missionary who died in a plane crash in Indonesia. He lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the city in which August Burns Red began.
Some tracks from the album are featured in the rhythm game Rock Band 2, via the Rock Band Network.
Lyrical meaning
On the albums message art drummer Matt Greiner stated:
Constellations is about directing our attention towards heaven, trusting that God will direct our steps, regardless of our circumstance, The kites in the artwork represent our own intelligence and innovation. So often we trust our own abilities to guide us through life, but the 'wind' of life will send our kites soaring every which way.
Release and promotion
On the band's Myspace page, they released four singles from the album, "Thirty and Seven" and "Existence", with "Thirty and Seven" also available for download on the iTunes Store. "Ocean of Apathy", the third track from the then-upcoming album, was released on Monday June 29, 2009. "Meddler" was released on July 6, 2009 and was shown on the band's Myspace. On July 7, 2009, the band posted the entire album on their Myspace page. They then would sell the album days ahead of the release at the beginning of their tour with Enter Shikari, Iwrestledabearonce and Blessthefall, starting with the Recher Theatre in Towson, Maryland on July 10, 2009. On July 29, 2009 a music video was made for the song "Meddler."
In 2019, the band held an extensive tour in support of the albums 10th anniversary, starting on June 20, 2019, the tour lasted till December 7, 2019. In total the tour lasted 66 dates covering the US, New Zealand, Australia and multiple European countries.
Commercial performance
The album was at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 20,401 copies in its first week. The album also has a bonus 7-inch vinyl record, that contained an alternate version of "Indonesia" and a cover of the NOFX song, "Linoleum", as a special gift when pre-ordering through a select dealer. A second 7-inch vinyl, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, was released on November 10, 2009 by August Burns Red's former label, CI Records. The vinyl editions were limited to 1,000 colored discs, 400 of which were green, 400 of which were red, and 200 of which were split-colored red and green.
Critical reception
Constellations was met with positive reception, Paula Carino of AllMusic dubbed "Ocean of Apathy" a standout song on the album stating " it employs layered rhythms that bring a subtle complexity to a deceptively simple and brutal song. Although some listeners may resist the stark good-versus-evil, Jesus-conquers-Satan imagery, few metal fans would argue that, on only its third go-round, an already mature band has taken another step forward." Christianity Today wrote "Jake Luhrs is one of the fiercest frontmen in all of modern hardcore/heavy metal, but the band explores a much more melodic and instrumentally diverse side here. On top of the standard dueling riffs, the band adds intricate guitar solos and syncopated explosions that are equally at home on the Vans Warped Tour with Underoath or "Guitar Hero" right alongside Metallica all while remaining spiritually centered." Comparing it to the band’s previous record Messengers Ultimate Guitar noted "unlike Messengers, Constellations has more softer parts that make the heavier parts even brutaller. Definitely an album to throw down to."
Accolades
In 2010, Constellations was nominated for a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 41st GMA Dove Awards. In 2020 the album was voted the 10th best metalcore album of all time by readers of Ultimate Guitar.
Personnel
August Burns Red
Jake Luhrs – lead vocals
J.B. Brubaker – lead guitar
Brent Rambler – rhythm guitar
Dustin Davidson – bass, backing vocals
Matt Greiner – drums, piano
Additional musicians
Tommy Giles Rogers Jr. of Between the Buried and Me – guest vocals on track 7, "Indonesia"
Additional personnel
Jason Suecof – production, mixing
Devin Townsend – additional mixing
Troy Glessner – mastering
Ryan Clark of Invisible Creature – artwork
Jonathan Dunn – A&R