August Burns Red aren’t new to the metalcore scene. Much like their name implies, it’s been a slow burn for the Pennsylvania natives, who’ve put out seven studio albums since forming in 2003 (when the majority of the band members were seniors in high school) but far from a fruitless one. Not only are they well known on the Warped Tour circuit, their 2013 release, Rescue & Restore, hit Billboard’s Top 10.

Most recently signed to Fearless Records, ABR dropped their latest album, Found in Far Away Places, this past June. They’ve been consistent in their decade-plus of grinding away on the road, combining a heavy, metal sound with melodic staples that set them apart from their hard rock peers—as does their clean-cut, almost suburban look.

Guitarist JB Brubaker talked to Myspace about their unique sound, growing up together sonically, and why their less-than-stereotypically look is only a big deal if you make it one.

Hometown and Homebase: Lancaster, Pennsylvania

What was the biggest inspiration when recording Found in Far Away Places?

At this point, our biggest inspiration when making records is trying to be our own band with our own sound. We try to avoid genre cliches and don’t worry about what our peers are doing. We just worry about what we are doing and constantly outdoing ourselves.

Do you have a favorite song off FIFAP?

"Majoring In the Minors.” It's a progressive song that takes the listener on a journey. It's full of tempo changes, lots of lead guitars, and even has a Western interlude in the middle. It's catchy while not being remotely pop. I'm really proud of that song.

How has ABR's sound grown since you guys first formed in high school?

In 2003, we could barely play our instruments. We were young people just learning to play together. We had no idea what we wanted to do as a band besides be as heavy as possible. As we grew up and improved, our sound began to evolve. We've always been a heavy band, but as time has passed, we've begun to introduce more non-metal moments into our songs. After doing the metal thing for so many years, it's fun for us to sprinkle in other genres and influences. I think ABR will always be heavy, but we’re always looking for new ways to grow and experiment.

What's the biggest change you've seen in the metal scene over the last decade?

There aren't as many bands taking risks these days. The drive to innovate and broaden the scope of the genre seems to be at a stand still. The biggest challenge, in my opinion, is staving off monotony. Maybe I've just been around the genre too long, but I feel like most bands are just copies of each other. As a fan, it’s made it difficult for me to find new metal bands and albums that I'm legitimately excited about. I would like to see more creativity as a whole.

Not that we want to be stereotypical, but metal bands tend to have a specific look. Have you guys purposefully strayed from that image?

Why does the genre of music we play need to define the way we look? We are all pretty normal dudes who dress like normal dudes. I guess in some weird way, that has become our image. We're the metal band who doesn't really look like a metal band. That's fine with me, though. I'm glad I don't need to deal with a big beard or long greasy hair and get to wear colors besides black!

What's the craziest gift a fan's ever given you on tour?

I'm a big baseball card collector, and I've been gifted some really cool cards and even unopened hobby boxes. That's not terribly crazy, but I don't think ABR has a lot of "crazy" fans. Our fans seem to be a lot like us—just your average Joe or Jane who enjoys music and a fun live show.

What's one thing you have to bring with you to keep you sane while traveling?

The easy answer is my iPhone. I'm very keen on staying in touch with my wife when I'm on tour, and that little device certainly makes communicating with home a whole lot easier! If my phone is too obvious an answer, also my toiletry bag. I hate feeling dirty, and the road is a pretty dirty place. I like to shower every night after the show and even, when possible, in the mornings when I wake up. I'm grateful that we've gotten to the point in our career where almost every venue has a shower—it makes for a much better night's sleep after a sweat-soaked show.

Can we beg you for a Left Shark tank top but also bow down to you for turning it into an awesome tank so quickly?

The left shark tanks are all gone! I'm so sorry. We did a small run of them since we didn't want any leftover after Warped Tour ended. They were a popular item at the ol' merch table. People liked that shark. I liked him too!

What's your best memory from this Warped Tour?

Our pal, Shark, came out on stage with us every day during our new song, "Identity." He rocked out with me during the end of my solo in that song, often finishing it off with a tickling of my chin. He was a good shark. I miss him.