SOULBORN
“CRASH & BURN”
Album Review By Custer Elver
7.5/10
Soulborn is an english 4-piece coming from Norwich and playing a high octane thrash with some echoes from groove metal and hardcore. I have in my hands their self-released album “Crash and Burn”, and I can say it’s fast, dirty and bad as it’s clear from the first note of the opening track “Fill The void”. This review could also end up at this point, because our guys are a kind of monster-locomotive running on the same rails along the way. No trace of any kind of experimentation, except for some southern rock interlude, but who cares? they are made to create headbanging and do it pretty damn good. Pushing on full-throttle mode from the beginning they are able to create an in-your-face effect, which is a punch to the listener’s stomach.
I was extremely impressed by the song “Strive”, of which you can find a video below, with no doubt the best chapter of the full work.
The album is made of 9 tracks, all standing on a suitable standard, well played and well written. The only weak point I can detect is a sort of repetitive approach, a pattern which these guys lavish on the listener on and on, with no change to the plot.
A very well played album, with a great performance by the bass player Matt Gamble, constantly roaring and pushing the groove to another level, dancing well with great drumming. Mike Wallace, singer of the band, is charismatic and able to lead the lines through this 9-tracks trip, alternating screaming and growled parts in a very persuasive way. The guitar riffing is always in the foreground and it’s astonishing.
What’s missing, however, is the “WOW-effect”, the unexpected smack which can catch you off base. That aside, this is still a good album and I hope to see them live soon.
TRACKLIST
Fill the Void
Beck and Call
Penitent Man
We Grow
Sonofabitch
Light Of Death
Systems
Zero
Strive
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