Perth thrashers continue to impress
Perth (AUS) quartet The Burning have quickly followed up their debut release (2005's Demon Resurrection) with another slab of thrash fused metal, titled The Dead Will Rise.... Vocalist Richard Clements, guitarist Nat Miller, bassist Damon Zomer and drummer Shaun Hack unleash their latest seven songs of black thrash madness which sees the standard continue, if not slightly improve, on that of their first release, which can only ever be a good thing.
Things are off to a no nonsense flying starting with Legion Of Infinity and it's snarling vocals and sinister riffs, but come guitar solo time, and I hate to sound like a broken record, but the band's sound still suffers the same problem as their previous release in that it sounds hollow without a second guitarist. There's some quality musicianship on The Living Dead which isn't short on gang vocals either, whilst the song's finale, Voices Of The Dead (LD Pt2), continues the standard of great riffs and dynamics. Forever Burning rocks through with the most groove we've seen from these guys to date before the decidedly more metal two part Thy Will Be Done shows off some truly very Kirk Hammett-esque (Metallica) inspired lead work in the midst of plenty of head banging goodness. The effects laden bass instrumental Into The Night winds it all up in an unexpected way and would have been more effective had it been placed anywhere but at either end of this release.
As with their first release, the lack of second guitar doesn't do The Dead Will Rise... any favours, but again the musicianship and song writing do stand up well overall. These Perth lads are doing a great job and their works will appeal to fans of early 80s thrash etc, and I am keen to see what their debut album will be like whenever that may surface.
(Independent)
