August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill

August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill, A Holiday Album is the fifth studio album, the first Christmas album and the first instrumental album by American metalcore band August Burns Red. It was released on October 9, 2012 through Solid State Records and was produced by Carson Slovak.[4]

August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill, A Holiday Album
Studio album by August Burns Red
Released	October 9, 2012
Recorded	March 12 – March 30, 2012[1]
Studio	Atrium Studios, Lancaster, PA
Genre	Melodic metalcore,[2] Christmas music
Length	42:06
Label	Solid State
Producer	Carson Slovak
August Burns Red chronology
Leveler (2011) August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill, A Holiday Album (2012) Rescue & Restore (2013)
Singles from Sleddin' Hill
"Sleigh Ride" Released: September 18, 2012[3]

Background

The album was announced on Solid State's website on August 7, 2012.[5]

Discussing the album, lead guitarist J.B. Brubaker said he was able "to get a little more wild" with his influences and that one of the solos was an ode to Blue Album-era Weezer. He also said that his punk influences are evident all over the album.[6]

"Flurries" was the first song released from the album for streaming. It was released online on August 31, 2012.[7][8]

"Sleigh Ride" was the second song released from the album. It was released on September 18, 2012 to online retailers.[9] The song was one of the last songs to be recorded for the album due to "its crazy song structure and various key changes", guitarist J.B. Brubaker said. The song features a jazz section in the middle with a horn section.[10]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
HM Magazine	[11]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[12]
Metal Injection	Positive[13]

Track listing

All songs arranged by JB Brubaker. All songs are public domain, unless otherwise stated.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Flurries"	JB Brubaker	4:17
2.	"Frosty the Snowman"	S. Nelson & J. Rollins	2:18
3.	"Sleigh Ride"	Leroy Anderson	2:53
4.	"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (remastered)	Traditional/Unknown	2:50
5.	"Jingle Bells"	James Lord Pierpont	4:13
6.	"Oh Holy Night"	Adolphe Adam	4:24
7.	"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"	Johnny Marks	1:59
8.	"Sleddin' Hill"	Brubaker	2:38
9.	"Little Drummer Boy" (remastered)	Katherine Kennicott Davis, Henry Onorati & Harry Simeone	4:19
10.	"Winter Wonderland"	Felix Bernard	1:55
11.	"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (remastered)	Traditional/Unknown	4:55
12.	"Carol of the Bells" (2012)	Mykola Leontovych	2:48
13.	"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"	Traditional/Unknown	2:30
Total length:			42:06

2013 re-release bonus track[14]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"	Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky	2:47

2014 re-release bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Joy to the World"	Isaac Watts	3:07

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[15]

August Burns Red Jake Luhrs – vocals (track 7) JB Brubaker – lead guitar, vocals, banjo (track 7) Brent Rambler – rhythm guitar, vocals (track 7) Matt Greiner – drums, piano, vocals (track 7) Dustin Davidson – bass guitar, vocals (track 7)

Additional musicians Zachary Veilleux – piano (track 3) Taylor Brandt – violin (tracks 3, 6, 7 & 13) Ailie Herr – additional violin (track 13) Grant MacFarland – additional drums and percussion (tracks 3 & 5), cello (tracks 6 & 13) Jason Welsh – tuba (track 13), trumpet (tracks 3 & 13) Lancaster Bible College Vocal Choir – vocals (track 6) Dr. Robert Bigley – vocal choir writing, direction (track 6) Additional personnel Carson Slovak – producer

Charts

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[16]	147
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[17]	8
US Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[18]	14

References

1. "Sleddin' Hill: A Holiday Album - August Burns Red". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
2. "August Burns Red Burns Red Presents Sleddin' Holiday Album". Bradley Zorgdrager. October 9, 2012.
3. "August Burns Red Streaming "Sleigh Ride" Track Off Upcoming Christmas Album". Metal Underground. September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
4. "August Burns Red Announce Christmas Album Sleddin' Hill: A Holiday Album". Alter The Press!. September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
5. "News | "August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill, A Holiday Album" Out October 9th!". Solid State Records. August 7, 2012. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
6. "August Burns Red announce holiday album, 'Sleddin' Hill'". Alternative Press. August 7, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
7. "August Burns Red stream "Flurries" from holiday album". Alternative Press. August 31, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
8. "AUGUST BURNS RED STREAM NEW SONG 'FLURRIES' FROM UPCOMING HOLIDAY ALBUM". Loudwire. August 31, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
9. "Sleigh Ride". Amazon.com. September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
10. "August Burns Red has premiered another new song from their forthcoming release". Lambgoat. September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
11. Cunningham, Jack. "August Burns Red - Sleddin' Hill". HM Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
12. "Jesus Freak Hideout review". Jesus Freak Hideout. October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
13. Sol (October 12, 2012). "AUGUST BURNS RED Sleddin' Hill, A Christmas / Holiday Album Review". Metal Injection. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
14. http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/song_stream_august_burns_red_dance_of_the_sugar_plum_fairy
15. "Sleddin' Hill: A Holiday Album - August Burns Red - Credits". Retrieved December 24, 2012.
16. "August Burns Red Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
17. "August Burns Red Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard.
18. "August Burns Red Chart History (Hard Rock Albums)".