Released 9 years ago this October
Phantom Anthem
August Burns Red · 2017
53 min · 11 tracks · metalcore
Intricate guitar work and relentless rhythms intertwine with introspective lyrics, crafting a sonic landscape that is both aggressive and thoughtful.
Top tracks — play these first
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King of Sorrow Start here — This opening track sets the tone with its dynamic shifts and explores themes of pain and resilience, encapsulating the album's emotional core.
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Lifeline — With its anthemic chorus and powerful instrumentation, this track stands out as a call for hope amidst despair, showcasing the band's lyrical growth.
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Invisible Enemy — This song combines relentless energy with introspective lyrics about internal battles, illustrating the band's knack for blending aggression with vulnerability.
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Generations — A standout track that delves into themes of legacy and impact, it features intricate musical arrangements that highlight the band's technical skill.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate musicianship and emotional depth, making it a solid entry in the metalcore genre.
What we noticed
- Vocals alternate between melodic singing and aggressive screaming, enhancing the emotional intensity of the lyrics.
- Several tracks incorporate instrumental interludes that provide contrast to the heavier sections, allowing for moments of reflection.
- The final track ends with a gradual decrescendo, leaving a lingering sense of resolution.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo progression
- emotionally charged intensity
- complex guitar intricacies
- immersive in-order listening
- reflective yet aggressive tone
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification
- seek highly varied tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — The album showcases the band's technical prowess and songwriting depth, marking a high point.
- Themes
- internal battles· legacy and impact· pain and resilience
- Career context
- Phantom Anthem is August Burns Red's seventh studio album, following their breakthrough record, Rescue & Restore. By 2017, the band had solidified their reputation in the metalcore scene, building on their signature sound while exploring new lyrical themes and musical complexities.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Killswitch Engage· Parkway Drive· The Devil Wears Prada
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Lifeline
The bridge shifts from a tense atmosphere to a moment of clarity where the speaker acknowledges their struggles while finding strength.
This transition underscores a pivotal change in perspective, offering a moment of hope that contrasts sharply with earlier despair in the song.
Tracklist
- 1 King of Sorrow Start here 4:05
- 2 Hero of the Half Truth 5:03
- 3 The Frost 4:46
- 4 Lifeline 5:34
- 5 Invisible Enemy 4:37
- 6 Quake 4:08
- 7 Coordinates 5:11
- 8 Generations 6:00
- 9 Float 4:15
- 10 Dangerous 4:23
- 11 Carbon Copy 5:39
What to play next
Guardians
2020
Continues the intricate sound with a mix of aggression and thoughtfulness.
Found in Far Away Places
2015
Sets the stage for the themes and complexity found in Phantom Anthem.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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