After nearly three decades since their formation, and having established themselves as legends in their own right with only a handful of EPs, Burn have at long last put forth their first full-length — and it certainly lives up to expectations. Having blazed a trail along with bands like Quicksand, carrying over and blending the sounds of D.C.'s melodic hardcore bands of the late '80s with the raw power of traditional NYHC, Burn's sound has always been one that pushes boundaries. On Do or Die, that hasn't changed at all.
There isn't a track in the ten-song set that echoes the one before it, each one having their own structural quirks and abruptly changing pace between melodic hooks and moments of unrestrained intensity. "Flame" dabbles in speedy verse riffs that harken back to the sounds of Burn's self-titled EP before barrelling into uncharted territories of aggression for the breakdown, with Chaka Malik's ever-morphing vocal style coming to a boil here (as well as on the equally red-hot title track).
Refurbished recordings of "New Morality" and "Last Great Sea" make an appearance on the latter half of the album as well, sounding altogether richer and tying a sense of familiarity into the crisp production sheen that only adds additional depth to Burn's sound. Last year's aptly titled From the Ashes was just a taste of what Burn had in store for Do or Die; it's apparent that with this release, they'll only continue to influence droves of new bands to come.
(Deathwish Inc.)There isn't a track in the ten-song set that echoes the one before it, each one having their own structural quirks and abruptly changing pace between melodic hooks and moments of unrestrained intensity. "Flame" dabbles in speedy verse riffs that harken back to the sounds of Burn's self-titled EP before barrelling into uncharted territories of aggression for the breakdown, with Chaka Malik's ever-morphing vocal style coming to a boil here (as well as on the equally red-hot title track).
Refurbished recordings of "New Morality" and "Last Great Sea" make an appearance on the latter half of the album as well, sounding altogether richer and tying a sense of familiarity into the crisp production sheen that only adds additional depth to Burn's sound. Last year's aptly titled From the Ashes was just a taste of what Burn had in store for Do or Die; it's apparent that with this release, they'll only continue to influence droves of new bands to come.