It feels like they were consciously building these tracks to follow the established formula for the band, only to then yank it away at the last moment in favor of something more oppressive and drenched in shadow.
Bottom line, if you're looking to Circadian Promise for that one specific thing that first drew attention to Fires In the Distance, you'll find little of it. But if you're here for well constructed and excellent doom, then you're in luck.
Season of Surrender is a welcome and forceful reminder of just how good August burns Red can be when they cut away all the chaff and focus on writing the best, rather than the wildest, songs they can muster.