Starting in 2003 while still in High School, August Burns Red started with a grotesque and gloomy history. While the band was forming, their first lead vocalist, Jon Hershey, broke up with his girlfriend August, who later burned his dog Redd in retaliation. This history led to the bands introduction into metalcore, a variation on heavy metal with quick time changes and heavy breakdowns.
In 2004, the group signed with Solid State Records, who later released the EP Looks Fragile After All and the album Thrill Seeker. In 2007, the album Messengers was also released. The group toured with As I Lay Dying and Misery Signals in 2007 and later headlined in a tour in 2008 with A Skylit Drive, Sky Eats Airplane, Greeley Estates, and This or the Apocalypse.
The band considered themselves a Christian metalcore band, playing Christian music that speaks for itself. The band likes people to know they are Christians through their works. The group enjoyed playing Carol of the Bells recorded for X Christmas, a new Christmas carol album. The band also played their variation on Hit Me Baby One More Time, on the album, Punk goes Pop 2.
