Artist: Burn
Title: The Truth
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 11th March 2011
Label: Blind Records
Album Review
The history of German band BURN is defined by much work, personal and musical, the transition of a loner to a front man and the transformation of an idea into a fully-fledged band team, having played already in support of the likes of HOOTERS or EISBRECHER. BURN now is about to let loose their first body of work ’The Truth’ on 11th March and we will have a look now if all the work has paid off in the end. The first hint is given by the kick-off track ‘Burn For You’ that first wafts away on a current of airy choirs, disappearing in a fraction to let the suspended feelings crash down to the grounds of stark reality, of earthly rock pulses and throbbing bass in conjunction with waves of subtle, expressive electronics merging in a seamless flow that comes as hard as a fast punch and as soft as a caressing breeze. Next, a ‘Ghost’ is descending and the band is focusing on cleanly interlocked electronics amidst wave riffs in a state of fragmentation, altogether stressing the vocal capabilities of Felix Friberg. Then, when the chorus is hitting it’s like a sort of eruption with a striking force, a roaring momentum before going back.
We’re going to head over to the album’s title track, having an obvious reference in sound design to early days of THE CURE. It evokes pictures of watching microscopic grains of sand on the bottom of an hourglass that is your life; so much time just wasted with doing nothing and the everlasting question whether there’s still a chance to turn the wheel or not. The truth dawning on you! The oppressive is coming in waves, as an inner monologue and as a sonic reflection in ominous loops, sinister mumblings of a dry bass and eruptions of spine-tingling wailings which at their peak remind of Robert Smith at his best. Sorry if I have to dig up that CURE comparison again. Just was fitting too well for ‘Deeper Down’, which is actually a stand-out track on the album for me. The treacherous temptations of ‘Naivety’ are our next stop. Seeing things as we want them and not for what they actually are, painting an own picture of reality before the wake-up call comes. Delicately orchestrated melodies meander through hip-shaking rock forward momentum, making for some enjoyable minutes at a live show.
‘Dirt’ is not so much driving these elements to the surface, but reverting back to a post-punk inflicted style to bring back half-forgotten memories of a time when that kind of music was in its early days with bands such as JOY DIVISION, adding a good slice of modernity and an unashamedly catchy chorus in my opinion. ‘White Is The New Black’ triggers off an electronic alarm until drifting off in psychedelic realms. It is an expression of a unique lifestyle, a state of mind. The song itself is counterpointing overtones of bright white with sonic and lyric shades of black, leaving room for the thoughts in-between, though it sounds quite uplifting, actually. Now we’re taking the steps, spiralling down into unknown depths of palpable black. The deeper you go, the clearer it gets this is what it looks like inside a soul that never has known any kind of happiness, never having been able to really connect to someone, thus feeling completely ‘Lost In This World’. The song sounds accordingly gloomy and desperate, the desperation generating powerful walls of harsh guitar riffs and fragile melodies.
There was one question in the beginning. Why is a debut sounding so good? To explain why, I’m going to do some name dropping, naming Vincent Sorg and Henning Verlage and while I’m certainly not much of a fan of what the latter one does with UNHEILIG, there’s no questioning he is a capable musician who helped giving the album a great sound ‘The Truth’ brings back the old days while not clinging to them. The band always has an eye on the present without making advances to any current trends. Watch out for the album!
Tracklist
01. Burn For You
02. Ghost
03. The Truth
04. Deeper Down
05.Phoenix
06. Naivety
07. Dirt
08. White Is The New Black
09. Lost Into This World
10. Bursting Clouds
11. Where Are You
Line-Up
Felix Friberg - Vocals, Guitar
Sven Krachten - Guitar
Felix Flögel - Bass
Jörg Schwaer - Drums
Website
http://www.burnmusic.com / http://www.myspace.com/burnmusicdotde
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 8.5 / 10
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