Life Lesson Jake Luhrs Realized After Wayne Gretzky Handshake

August Burns Crimson’s Jake Luhrs was the newest visitor on Full Steel Jackie’s weekend radio program to speak in regards to the metalcore veterans’ latest album, Demise Beneath.

In fact, he spoke in regards to the viral second the place he obtained to shake the hand of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky. He fanboyed tougher than he ever had in his life and it helped provide perspective on his personal life and the way a lot he means to his personal followers.

Concerning Demise Beneath, it is a report that was written throughout the pandemic and one Luhrs feels differs from a lot of the group’s again catalog in that it bears overarching disappointment each lyrically and musically — a disappointment that’s profoundly genuine. Nonetheless, he says August Burns Crimson by no means need to deviate too removed from expectations and the their signature aggression and off-kilter moments additionally outline this tenth album.

Elsewhere, he chats about his private mission to elevate up others and the way his Coronary heart Help psychological well being community and namesake festivals assist accomplish this objective.

Learn the complete interview under.

Music as an artwork type is each calculated and intuitive. What features of Demise Beneath have been thought out and what was pure intuition?

We have now at all times needed to stay near the roots of the band, so the aggression and off-time signatures and progressive tune constructions…. What’s actually fascinating about Demise Beneath is that [guitarist] JB [Brubaker] and [bassist] Dustin [Davidson] wrote this album throughout the pandemic. There’s loads heartache, division and doom and gloom.

Total, t’s nonetheless obtained just like the aggression from ABR, but it surely has this disappointment over it and actual vulnerability lyrically and within the music. It is an album I believe that individuals may have an emotional attachment to extra so than like, “Oh, that is actually only a catchy report,” or, “That is simply thrilling and enjoyable.”

We nonetheless have these components, however I really feel prefer it’s actually completely different in the truth that it is very a lot a time capsule of the pandemic and the way troublesome that was for everyone on this planet.

Jesse Leach from Killswitch is on the one “Ancestry” and is simply one of many visitor performances on this new report. How do exterior musicians improve the music with out diluting the qualities that make it distinctive to you?

That is an superior query.

I believe it is actually essential that whenever you do a collaboration with an artist, you perceive their skillset and that they actually need to collaborate with you.

Jesse Leach is an outstanding vocalist. He is a legend within the business and he has a fantastic efficiency as a vocalist. What was actually cool about working with him — and what I believe is actually essential — is he had an actual need to know the lyrical content material, the concept and the imaginative and prescient for the tune itself earlier than sort of placing his pen to paper.

One other factor that I actually prefer to get pleasure from as a lyricist and a vocalist is giving him the chance to have a canvas the place he can sort of paint his personal image throughout the image and that is what he did on “Ancestry.” There’s no person else that would have executed a refrain that effectively.

What was nice was he drove from, I believe New York, to the studio and was like, “Hey guys, I sort of have this concept.” And we mentioned, “Okay, effectively let’s hear it.”

He laid it out and we’re like, “It is executed.” He is simply such knowledgeable and he is aware of what he is doing, however I believe he knew the place to attract from his personal experiences in his life and lyrical content material by actually understanding the scope of the tune total. He did a improbable job and that is actually what you need whenever you desire a visitor musician to be part of your tune.

August Burns Crimson, “Ancestry” ft. Jesse Leach

August Burns Crimson are touring this 12 months, not solely supporting this new report, but additionally to commemorate a milestone anniversary. What makes longevity monumental, significantly to this band?

For us, the concept of happening 20 12 months anniversary tour remains to be not absolutely comprehendible to look again at the entire accomplishments and the adjustments. I additionally consider the opposite facet of how being on this band has modified us all and made us higher males and people. I believe it has to do with the followers impacting us as a lot as we affect our followers with our music and the neighborhood that we have constructed.

We’re not stopping anytime quickly, however we all know that after 20 years we’re ending effectively after we do. We will say we did it and we did it effectively — we have made our imprint and an affect. We’re very honored and humbled by the truth that we’re strolling right into a 20 12 months anniversary tour and our followers are by far essentially the most loyal individuals I’ve ever met in my life.

READ MORE: August Burns Crimson E book two twentieth Anniversary 2023 Excursions With The Satan Wears Prada + Bleed From Inside

Lately a video of you shaking hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s hand went viral. How does your pleasure inform a greater understanding of people who find themselves keen to satisfy you?

I do not suppose I’ve ever fanboyed ever in my life to that diploma. And if that is how individuals really feel after we do it, like at our meet and greets… there is no phrases, actually.

Even when you’re not a hockey fan, you understand who Wayne Gretzky is. I am guffawing and I am laughing as a result of I am like just a little child proper now even serious about that second. I do not know tips on how to evaluate it or tips on how to actually flesh it out.

The truth that it went viral is hilarious. The primary week after it went viral, I felt like I used to be in a simulation — this may’t presumably be actual life proper now.

What that does say is if you find yourself in a spot the place you’ve got impressed somebody or inspired them, that is treasured floor and the fan or the one who actually seems to be as much as you or is impressed by you has given you a present of authority to have a spot of their coronary heart. That is a very particular and treasured place.

I attempt to keep in mind that for when I’ve followers which might be excited to satisfy me. They’ve given me this place to be in a spot of their coronary heart and I need to respect that as a lot as I can. I actually attempt to exit of my option to shake fingers and take time with followers. Once more, it is part of the neighborhood that we’re constructing in our business and within the music style itself. It’s extremely, crucial. I am simply honored that anyone would even remotely suppose that I am their Wayne Gretzky. That is simply an enormous honor.

Uplifting different individuals appears to be your private mission assertion executed by means of your music, YourLife Health club and the Coronary heart Help psychological well being assist community. How does an occasion like Coronary heart Help Fest embody and promote all you consider?

Coronary heart Help Fest actually embodies what I consider my private mission for my life is, which is to essentially construct neighborhood and assist individuals perceive their price. Their life is so essential and I believe that plenty of instances the place that begins, or what I’ve skilled with some followers over time simply speaking with them, is how they see themselves, the experiences that they’ve had and the trauma that they have of their life.

I consider that this style of music, for me, has at all times been about unification, bringing individuals collectively and uplifting each other. That was just about why I began HeartSupport.com, which is a web-based neighborhood for individuals to speak brazenly about their psychological well being.

We’re doing Coronary heart Help Fests to carry the music and that understanding of the ability of music and what we are able to do after we come collectively for music. The opposite facet of that’s actually making an attempt to provide individuals a spot the place they are often themselves and really feel like they are often who they’re and perceive extra about themselves by sharing their story and by expressing what they’ve skilled with others. [It’s about] creating that unification, which I believe is without doubt one of the basic pillars throughout the music style.

Because of Jake Luhrs for the interview. Get your copy of August Burns Crimson’s new album ‘Demise Beneath’ on CD or vinyl and comply with the band on Fb, Instagram, Twitter and Spotify. Discover out the place you possibly can hear Full Steel Jackie’s weekend radio present right here.