Artist: Burden
Title: A Hole in the Shell
Genre: Heavy Metal / Sludge Metal / Hard Rock
Release Date: 15th April 2011
Label: Ván Records
Album Review
BURDEN were founded by a guitarist Saint D. and drummer Dave with a view to bring back the rock spirit into distilled and corrupted trend of Rock, their aim is to connect it back to the honest and pure feeling. In the process they marry it to their grungy / sludge heavy metal and hard / Southern rock mixtures of sound. Their forming years were thus subjected to gruelling examination of song-writing to forge authentic songs and to searching for other band members, such as a bassist and another guitarist. By 2008 they were completed by arrival of Thorsten, the vocalist.
The grinding and heavily laden rhythms of sludge are at the root of the songs but they are enlivened and sharpened by the Rock and at times taken even more into the dark alley by the grunge undertones. ‘A Hole in the Shell’ starts with a blessing of the broken for the journey through this emotive and existential tangle tackled by BURDEN. Next step is to be done with your denial, lay it right here! Through the sludgy parts the beast of heavy metal will grab you and strip you now. ‘Black Room’ is more of the Southern Rock, on a heavy side, mostly remarkable for the drumming and the atmosphere of the refrain and vocals throughout. Moving on to one of the highlights, ‘Process (Into The Nothing)’ is the song one that stands out to me to replay and enjoy it several times over, the tempos are contrasting here with ease, the vocal slides from cleaner to its smokier, growling quality, classical rock guitar solos pierce the heaviness of the song just at the right timing. It’s intense in just a perfect way.
However, the best moment comes with the closing ‘Conflict’, a complex and atmospheric song. The guitars are wonderfully layered, the vocals reach straight down to an emotive core of the listener - there is certainly where they connect the most and deepest. The moment of silence at its three quarter run and breaking into a classical tone of guitar and the southern-rock-bluesy sound within its clear vocal leaves it on a beautifully melancholy note and moreover, heightens the evocative quality. The song is also the longest, but the length truly serves the songs to drive it all home and offers a great closure and shows the versatility of the band. The album does possess a cathartic element, and certainly fulfils the band’s credo - it feels sincere, down to earth, authentic and honest indeed. It has left me surprised at how much I’ve enjoyed it, I’m impressed and I can only recommend it.
Tracklist
Bless The Broken – 4.48
Done With Denial – 4.32
Black Room – 5.19
Man Of No Account – 5.14
About The Veil And The Wound – 3.10
The Slug, The Drag, The Misery – 5.10
Stampede – 4.56
Process (Into The Nothing) – 6.41
The Fool – 5.03
Conflict – 12.43
Line-up
Thorsten – vocals
Saint – guitar
Dave – drums
Johnny – bass
Marcus – guitar
Websites
burden-online.com / http://www.myspace.com/listentoburden
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Total: 9 /10
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