Band: Burden
Title: A Hole In The Shell
Label: Ván Records
Release date: January 1st 2011
Review: CD

German act Burden (not the Finnish one) were formed in 2009 and with both mini-releases, they did gain some (modest) success in, especially, their home country. These releases, 2009’s self-released three-track promotional EP The Fool and last year’s ‘prequel’-EP Man Of No Account (on Ván – posted on April 4th 2010), turned out to be very ‘popular’ and therefore I’m sure many fans couldn’t hardly wait to listen to the first full album. Their live performances too will have strengthened their name within the European scene.
This full length studio debut, A Hole In The Shell, was recorded in a month and a half at the famous Kohlekeller Studio again (think Bluttaufe, Crematory, Agathodaimon, Winds Of Torment and so on). Originally it was supposed to be released in autumn 2010, but it got postponed for a (little) while.
A Hole In The Shell brings what we could expect, I mean it brings material in the vein of both former promotional mini-recordings. Yes, on this recording, the band mixes different modern styles with a late-eighties attitude, combining Doom Metal, Seattle-Rock, Stoner, Sludge and Post-Rock. The heavy tracks are energetic and powerful, begging for attention (and deserving to get attention), and breathing a sleazy, rough sound. Besides, it combines technical experiment with an uncompromising approach – and it works, in this band’s case. The vocals too are nice, at least within the sludgy Doom / Stoner scene: melodic yet (mainly) raspy at the same time.
Not every track is new, but because the minis were promotional releases, and therefore not that widely distributed, it does not matter.
Ten tracks plus a hidden one, and decent artwork too, by the way…

80/100

Ivan Tibos.