Search - Burnt By the Sun :: Soundtrack to the Personal Revolution

Ryan D. from VENTURA, CA
Reviewed on 2/1/2007...

Awesome hardcore cd

Burnt by the Sun=5 stars. Period

Wheelchair Assassin | The Great Concavity | 09/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're a Meshuggah-Dillinger Escape Plan-Strapping Young Lad fan looking for something that's in the same vein but a bit different, Burnt by the Sun may be the answer to your prayers. It's open to debate whether this album, their debut full-length, is their best release, as you can't go wrong with

any of them, but there's still no doubt that it's a convincing statement of this band's brilliance. Striking a balance between the full-speed sensory overload of BBTS's debut EP and the precision-metal attack of last year's masterful "The Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good," "Soundtrack" could be

viewed as a transitional album from a growing band, but it's much, much more than that. It's a stunning, creative classic in its own right, a full-length debut that immediately positioned BBTS as one of modern heavy music's leading bands.



Upon first listening to this album, what immediately comes to mind is just how utterly abrasive it is. Dispensing with any traces of melody or traditional song structure, "Soundtrack" is sonically violent enough to make ears bleed. The songs on here are pretty short, generally clocking in around the three-minute mark, but there's plenty of action packed in, as

each piece twists, writhes, and winds its way to its conclusion, with plenty of jarring tempo shifts lying in wait along the way. At times, "Soundtrack" sounds as though it could rend the very fabric of the atmosphere, and that's about the highest compliment that can be assigned to an album of its ilk. The album's frightening, oppressive mood is broken only by the closing track, the peaceful classical guitar etude "Rebecca." You might like this song, and you might not, but if you don't at least it's at the end of the

disc so you can hit the "skip" button and pretend it doesn't exist.



Leading the charge is Michael Olender, aptly described in the liner notes as the band's "vocal machine." Mike is easily one of the most skilled and innovative vocalists in all of heavy music, equipped with a throaty howl that makes him sound sort of like a deranged mental patient who's been

gargling with gravel. Even better yet, he's backed by the guitar pyrotechnics of John Adubato and Chris Rascio, an astoundingly skilled duo who mix their pounding chunks of riffage with plenty of dizzying fretboard wankery. Beneath the dense layers of guitar noise, the drumming of Dave

Witte can occasionally be buried somewhat, but a few extra listens should suffice to appreciate the added complexity that he brings to the band's sound.



So, that about sums it up. If you're looking for some crazed, offensive, scare-the-hell-out-of-everyone-you-know music, "Soundtrack" will more than fit the bill. And make sure to get BBTS's other releases as well. It seems these guys are going to be around a while."

Like im in class...

Hatredofgod | MA | 07/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listining to my teacher and not being bored at all!Every song rocks the hell out of you leaving you asking where the f*ck your ears went?!By far a topnotch release by bbts. Own it!"