Customer Reviews

Prey on Life

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As many metal fans know, Relapse Records could practically serve as one-stop shopping for discriminating headbangers, and this astounding debut album from Burst should only help cement the label's reputation as leaders in the world of extremity. Admittedly, this album did take a little getting used to, as I was somewhat expecting a collection of breakneck tempos, pulverizing riffs, and demented screams a la Soilent Green or the Dillinger Escape Plan. However, what initially sounded like undistinguished midtempo sludge turned out to some of the most interesting and innovative music I've heard in a long time. This album is less about sheer brutality or technical proficiency than craftsmanship, but fortunately it contains the best songwriting I've heard from a new heavy band since Burst's labelmates Burnt by the Sun hit the scene a few years ago.

Somehow managing to combine the sounds of what's come before without ever coming off as derivative, "Prey On Life" does a brilliant job of experimenting and avoiding metal cliches without abandoning the aggression that's at the heart of their metal-hardcore hybrid. This album's mix of heaviness and ambience actually reminds me a lot of the Isis classic "Oceanic," but Burst don't need to write 10-minute Isis-style marathon songs in order to convey a sweeping, grandiose feel. Winding their way through a variety of changes, the songs on "Prey On Life" manage to sound like fully-developed epics even at an average length of about 4 minutes. The band typically takes a measured approach to their sonic destruction, placing a heavy emphasis on melody and texture, with some well-placed moments of blazing speed to provide a measure of catharsis. The guitars are rarely heavy in the stereotypical "metal" sense, more often churning out hard-driving harmonies that bring to mind the dearly departed At the Gates (in fact, "Iris" could practically be a track from "Slaughter of the Soul"). The vocals are a huge plus, a nice, throaty mid-tempo scream that never loses intensity even during the album's slower and more melodic passages.

Which brings me to what I like most about this album: if there's one trend I'm tired of, it's potentially excellent metal and hardcore songs being ruined or at least hampered by some overly ambitious vocalist stopping halfway through and trying to do a Frank Sinatra impersonation, but fortunately there's very little of that to be found here. These guys never go the cheap route and interrupt their songs with extended stretches of acoustic guitars and clean vocals just to impress people with how "diverse" they are; they're committed to providing a harrowing listen from beginning to end, whether barrelling ahead at breakneck tempos or slowing things down for a more melodic feel. Having listened to this album five times in a row after I got it, I still can't get over how creative and multifaceted it is, especially for a debut. With their flawless musicianship and perfect production, Burst could definitely be in the same category as some of their more prominent labelmates before they're done. I for one am already rigid in joyful anticipation over the thought of their next album.

This cd absolutely blew my mind upon first listen. I was pretty surprised to hear such a creative metal cd. It takes aspects of probably ever kind of heavy underground music out there. I hear a lot of opeth in the way they structure their chords, some in flames in there guitar melodies, and even a hardcore flare thrown in for good measure. The overall feeling of the record reminds me of the new mastadon for some reason too. As you can probably tell by readin g this, this album really covers a lot of ground, and does it in an all new way. Seriously, if you are into metal at all you are going to love this cd. Nothing out there sounds like this right now.

BURST - Prey on Life

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The Swedish band `Burst' have been making some big waves since this album was released on Relapse Records in 2003... They have an entirely fresh approach to Metal... Atmospherically sounding at times like a sped up Neurosis combined with true `groove' oriented hardcore influences (Burnt by the Sun or maybe Nora) and hints at progressive Metal (Opeth influence maybe? They are their current tour-mates as of Jan-Feb 06)

Truth is `Burst' have more then enough influences to set them selves apart from anyone in either the European or American Metal scenes.... Yet they seem to perfectly balance the best of European Metal and Prog with American-Hardcore.

Prey on Life opens with the progressively spell binding' Undoing (Prey on Life)' as an introduction. After this follows two of their thrashier, guitar driven tracks... `Iris' and `Sculpt the Lives'. Fourth is the 5:00 min plus `Rain', an amazing song which shows just how good of song writers they truly are.(The middle of the song at 2:45 trance inducing!!!) The fifth song `The Foe Sublime' starts with incredible guitar assault and bleeds into another powerful and heavy track. `Forth Sun' is a beautiful instrumental track that is par with the works of Pelican or Red Sparowes... Track seven was actually my introduction to the band. (Thanks to a Relapse Sampler) `Crystal Asunder' is a true testament to Burst potential... combining atmospheric into with a hardcore punk drive and even some cleaner* vocals. (NOTE: On Bursts latest album `ORIGO' they have really expanded his singing range and it sounds incredible) `Vortex' has a furious introduction which keeps it aggression throughout the songs entirety... It even throws in an almost `metalcore' sounding bridge that is fantastic. Speaking of aggression number nine is `Monument' a speedy little track with

Track ten is `Visionary' an absolutely incredible track... starts similar to `fourth sun' but quickly opens up with some of the best hardcore screams I've heard since the days of Tim Williams. (Vision of Disorder) This track shuffles between the extremes of textured ambient music and pure melodic hardcore... And last, but certainly not least, is `Epidemic' an odd, yet fitting closer... an instrumental with an almost NIN-Esc keys and odd back ground ambience.

Overall everything on this album is amazing... Beautiful Guitars that also pack a serious punch and tons of melody... A Bass player that can, not only be heard but one that does some great bass lines... And a Drummer that blends hardcore and tribal beats in a very unique manner.

Sadly, Burst will likely never gain the attention they deserve... But if you like any forms of heavy music. (Hardcore, Metal, Post-Metal, Thrash, Punk etc...) You owe it to yourself and to one of the most unique bands too check this out. (Make sure you also check out their newest album `ORIGO' which is released this month - FEB 06)

Favorite Tracks: Crystal Asunder, Rain, Vortex and Iris (Really basically all the tracks)

-5 Stars

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Well this came out of nowhere! With this, their first full-length release, the previously unknown entity that is Burst have put out a record that is creative, diverse and at times genuinely awe-inspiring. Taking kudos from a number of disparate acts, they have forged a fairly unique, challenging and almost cryptic sound that is rare and undeniably satisfying to find amongst debutante bands. If this serves as just an introduction to the world of Burst, then the mind boggles as to what they're capable of with experience and development under their belts.

With a sound nestled somewhere in that vast stretch of space between Burnt By The Sun, Opeth and even (in slight snatches) The Mars Volta, Prey on Life melds scarred-throat metalcore with cosmic ambience, idiosyncratic structuring, expressive melodies and top-shelf musicianship, all the while with a keen eye on the big picture context. As the album unravels we see Burst adopting a number of different guises, and it is the way these approaches come together to form the expansive whole that makes this the formidable piece of work that it is. Each song is consistently excellent, and each one highlights a different aspect of their eclectic style. They clearly carve each song with inexplicable care, and as a result they create soundscapes that would be the envy of most musicians in the same field.

`Vortex' captures the band's melodic sensibilities in peak form, revolving around a catchy and instantly memorable guitar line. `Iris' shows their intelligent aggression, its driving rhythms and caustic vocals accentuated by the sporadic splashes of acoustic guitar buried beneath. `Fourth Sun' is an amazing instrumental collage, layers of dreamy melodies and tones moving in and out of the fore, creating a haze like a drug-induced euphoria. The production team earned their stripes on this track alone. And then there is the purely brilliant `Rain', an understated, spiritually ambient piece fuelled by a pulsating bass line and coloured by its continually fluctuating guitar textures and melodies. Incredible.

The only complaint one can make about this album (although it's not really a criticism per se) is the lack of any extended songwriting. Playing this sort of multi-faceted style just begs for that ten-minute-plus musical odyssey, but sadly we're offered no such thing, with an average track length of around four-minutes remaining constant throughout. Despite this, Prey on Life is still an extraordinarily commanding album for a debut, and it'll be remarkable to see where Burst goes to from here. In the meantime though, we have this to dazzle our minds, and if this doesn't satisfy those with more demanding musical needs, then it'll be hard to imagine what will.

Relapse is one of my favorite records label, mostly because there's a label that cares more about music than fads. Some of the most original bands are on that record label: Cephalic Carnage, Soilent Green, Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon, Burnt By The Sun, Necrophagist, Dying Fetus, Nile (they're alumni now), and, of course, Burst.

What I like about Burst is that they play a style of music that blends together hardcore and prog. It's like metalcore, but it really isn't. It's like prog, but not quite that. It's in between. They're basically a band who has influence from acts like Converge, Knut, Discordance Axis, Botch, Neurosis, and so forth, while retaining a fresh sound at the same time.

A recommended buy.

I guess to me it's highly debatable just how "killer" Relapse records is, but there's no arguing that this is a very good album.

Burst is to grindcore what melodic death is to death metal. If such a genre existed, I would call this melodic grindcore. Very riff based with touches of alternative melody added to the mix. Influences range from Carcass to Tool. The music is versatile, going from crushing heavy passages to darkly melodic passages and even to acoustics occasionaly. If I had to pick a weak point it would be the vocalist. He gets the job done but doesen't utilize much beyond hardcore scream and emo scream. Other than that complaint, this is a very solid album.

This is what metal is all about right here. This is a nice progression from the scandanavian/melodic metal scene that their country of origin is known for with this radically experimental mesh of many different styles. I have read a few reviews that say they are metal one second then radiohead the other.

I have to say that I agree with that statement. There is plenty of angry metal to love here, but it isn't without purpose. Burst has a gift when they write songs. They start at one point and leave the listener wondering where it will go next from the first second. This allows for a very adventurous listen and the listener sits in anticipation.

Well written, well recorded and one of the best albums of 2003.

I heard about burst while listining & watching the metal channel and they were playing the song "rain" amazing song by the way! Okay, the first track "undoing(prey on life)" sounds such much like an opeth song just like the rest of the album---Its like a mix between the sound of opeth with the vocals of hatebreed which isn't a bad thing ! Very well produced & done by burst---go out & buy this!

Burst's Relapse debut 'Prey on Life' mixes what seems to be an endless array of musical and generical points. Metalcore meets ambient meets emo meets heavy alternative metal (ala Mastodon and Today is the Day) meets hardcore. Sounds like an interesting combination? You bet it is. With such an original take on metal and the genres that they fuse it is great to hear such a wonderfully fresh and all together great sound. The riffs on 'Prey on Life' go from the brutal to the melodic, the vocals from a devastating scream to an excellent sing (frighteningly similar to Converge's Jacob Bannon style), and the more ambient influenced portions of the album just burst with beauty (it would make Jaaportit proud). The stand out tracks on this album include "Vortex", "Fourth Sun", and "Epdemic" (one of the best tracks of the year). I am amazed that a band could od something this original and this good on their debut. Burst, I take my hat of to you. Definitely one of the year's finest.

Best album of 2003 hands down. Metalcore brilliance.

Oh yeah, to that last guy...the tornfetus siad "Relapse debut" not just debut...read before you criticize.