Pure Rock Fury
As Barn Burner releases their second studio album, "Bangers II – Scum of the Earth," elements of Stoner Rock and Metalcore combine to create something (to steal a phrase from Daft Punk) harder, better, faster and stronger.
So, you've gotten this CD and loaded it into your HI-FI or you've just received the MP3's from a seriously cool friend that wants you to get into some awesome music and is (maybe) coming to hang out with you later? Thank that friend. Hang out with that person every day of the week. He or She is into some serious music, and maybe, just maybe, your friend will show you the way. Listen to that copy of "Banger's II – Scum of the Earth" because you want to be enlightened, like it's your holy book. In principle what you are listening to when you get your first taste of this album is a very toned down 3 Inches of Blood dressed with vocals akin to Buzz Osbourne of The Melvins. As you flick on track one, "Scum of The Earth," you discover that fact quite clearly. But this album is not fuelled by the faux Viking hoards of Metalcore or the popularity of cardigans stemming from Grunge. They're fuelled by an ounce of weed and pure rock fury.
Why an ounce of weed? 'Cause they're billed as coming from Bongtreal, Canada, that's why. With a solid core of Stoner Rock rhythm running through the album, it's true that these guys are sparking up with the ghost of Phil Lynott, as almost every song contains a strong Stoner Rock pound and a riff reminiscent of Thin Lizzy.
The lyrics aren't half bad too. "Put your eyes to the sky / and watch their demise / the world is accursed / with the scum of the earth." Woah. When that line was delivered the first time I heard "Scum of the Earth" I tilted back in my chair a little. Almost every song on this album is recommended listening but, "Keg Stand and Deliver" and "Skid Marks the Spot" get an honourable mention here just because of their titles.
Or perhaps I'm being under-critical? In the grand scheme of music Barn Burner's "Bangers II - Scum of the Earth" doesn't add anything revolutionary to the world of metal apart from 10 well crafted and above standard songs which I guarantee will make you bang your head at some point, but still, just above standard none the less.
Decibel Magazine says this band got swagger and Outburn Magazine says this band is electrifying but I'd stick by the advice of that wise friend of yours with the impeccable musical taste. This band is pure rock fury.