Behemoth

When a band like August Burns Red release a track titled Behemoth, it immediately sets a tone. You expect scale. You expect weight. You expect something that doesn’t just hit hard but towers. And from the opening seconds, that’s exactly what this single delivers.

There’s no dramatic atmospheric build. No elongated tease. Instead, the guitars crash in with a tightly wound riff that feels mechanical in its precision but feral in its energy. It’s that unmistakable ABR balance, technical without being indulgent, punishing without becoming noise. The opening motif alone establishes the identity of the track, rapid alternate picking, sharp rhythmic stops, and a subtle sense of tension simmering underneath.

The guitar work across Behemoth is absolutely relentless. The riffs don’t just sit in one pocket; they twist and pivot constantly. There are moments where the band lean into classic metalcore chug patterns, but they’re layered with melodic flourishes and quick fretboard runs that add movement and colour. Harmonised leads flash in and out, not overpowering the track but lifting it just enough to give it that signature August Burns Red uplift amongst the brutality.

The rhythm section is a machine here. The drumming in particular feels like the engine of the entire track. The double kick passages are blistering but controlled, never messy, never overpowering. Blast adjacent fills ripple through transitions, and the cymbal work adds that metallic sheen that keeps everything feeling expansive. What’s impressive is the stamina of it all. The drums don’t simply keep time; they inject momentum into every shift, every breakdown, every tempo change.

Vocally, the delivery is commanding and intense. There’s a bark in the tone that carries authority, but it’s layered with urgency rather than pure rage. The phrasing locks into the complex riff structures with impressive fluidity, weaving through the technicality rather than fighting against it. There’s no sense of strain just conviction. Even when the instrumentation feels like it’s racing at full speed, the vocals sit firmly in control.

Structurally, Behemoth feels massive. It doesn’t rely on one central hook; instead, it builds through evolving sections. There’s a particular strength in how the band use space. Midway through the track, there are groove driven moments where the tempo eases slightly, allowing the weight of the riffs to really sink in. These aren’t soft sections, they’re crushing in a different way. Slower, thicker, more oppressive. When the track accelerates again, it feels explosive by contrast.

The breakdowns deserve special mention. Rather than feeling like predictable pauses for heaviness, they feel architecturally placed, built into the structure of the song with intention. The low end drops out just enough to make the next hit land harder. The guitars dig deeper into palm muted patterns, and the drums emphasise space between strikes, creating that chest rattling impact that defines a great metalcore moment.

Production wise, everything sounds enormous but not over polished. The guitars have a gritty bite while still retaining clarity in the faster passages. The bass adds a subtle but vital depth, thickening the overall tone without muddying the mix. The drums punch with sharp precision, the kick is defined, the snare cracks cleanly, and the cymbals shimmer without becoming harsh. It’s a mix that allows every technical detail to be heard while still delivering sheer force.

Emotionally, the track feels like controlled power. There’s aggression, yes but it’s focused aggression. Nothing feels reckless. Instead, it feels disciplined and deliberate, which arguably makes it heavier. The band aren’t trying to overwhelm you with chaos, they’re overwhelming you with mastery.

What makes Behemoth stand out most is how it reinforces August Burns Red’s identity without sounding stale. Many bands at this stage of their career either soften or drastically shift direction. Here, they double down on what they’ve always done best, technical proficiency, tight songwriting, and punishing intensity but it feels sharpened rather than recycled.

This isn’t just another heavy single. It’s a statement of consistency and craft. It’s the sound of a band that understands their strengths and continues to refine them with surgical precision.

Behemoth doesn’t just hit hard, it looms. And it proves once again why August Burns Red remain one of the most technically formidable forces in modern metalcore.