POWDERBURN
"Echoed
in Red" (Satan's Little Helper; 2006)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
With "Echoed in Red," Powderburn take the best aspects of nu-metal (think Disturbed) and combine them with the harder edge of classic metal, a la Metallica. The result is a six track collection of tunes that rock pretty hard and manage to avoid most of the clichés that make nu- and heavy metal sometimes so dull and repetitive.
With razor-sharp riffs, driving rhythms and a vocalist who almost ... almost ... sounds like James Hetfield, "Echoed in Red" is a solid CD throughout and one that gets better with each subsequent listens. It's nowhere as edgy as Disturbed and nowhere near as heavy as Metallica. "Echoed in Red" falls somewhere in between. But it does so with a surprising effectiveness that will have its sound growing on you before you know it.
Also included is a DVD featuring video for three songs, interviews with the bandmembers and a slideshow.
Powderburn is: Josh Klayman (guitar / vocals), Ken Lockman (vocals / guitar),
Greg Enkler (bass / vocals), and Patrick Swiff (drums).
More information can be found at their site: http://www.powderburn.net.
"A
New Sin" (Self-Produced; 2000)
Reviewed by Alicia Downs
Powderburn has the potential to make it big in the music scene. For
one, they hail from Texas, which is a lush environment for breeding nationwide metal acts. But the second
reason has more to do with their monotonous metal sound that lacks anything too drastic. This is not to
imply that it is a bad thing, it is just to clarify that if you like the "metal" flying around radio and Ozzfest stages
these days, Powderburn will be all the more exciting to you. If not, stay clear.
"A New Sin" is ... well ... nu-metal. It has the angst, it has the dueling guitars, it does not have much
to offer in the way of lyrical substance. Basically, it is what it is worth - a potentially huge band
that could blow up on a scene that has spawned the likes of Slipknot and
Hatebreed.
Like Slipknot, Powderburn's mood contains antagonistic guitars especially heard in
"Release the Men." But, vocally, the Slipknot reference is unfair in "Release the Men" as it becomes a vocally
confused piece where the actual singing portion does not flow well with the angry shouting
that - quite frankly - sounds way cooler than the punk ambient chorus.
For the most part, though, the singing/screaming standard is pretty solid. "Stars and Stripes" works
as does "Already Dead" with its infectious "I'll break you down" chorus.
Despite the lack of originality anywhere on "A New Sin" I must confess that the entire album fits in
well with the Ozzfest generation. Powderburn will be cool to you if you like the nu metal
sound - their crisp metal feels like a diamond in the rough. Just jump on now before
they get signed so you can justify liking them even after MTV gets hold.
Powderburn is: Kerry Jennings (vocals), Josh Klayman (guitar), Ken Lockman (guitar and vocals),
Greg Enkler (Bass), and Joel Reyes (drums).
More information can be found at their site: http://www.powderburn.net.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2007 by R.
Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
Revised: 11 Nov 2024 11:53:41 -0500
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