Stoneburner – Sickness Will Pass
By Chris Muravez
The other night I had the privilege of meeting these guys and watching them perform their set in Chico, Ca. The four piece metal band from Portland impressed me with their enthusiasm and love for their music, and it was no small feat to create a professional sound in the cramped and muggy pizza shop/Chico Pyrate Punx venue (Monstro’s Pizza). A fact that did not go unnoticed by me or anyone else in the crowd. So, their live performance went really well, but it takes more than enthusiasm and live sound engineering to create a good album because seeing and enjoying a live show is a different animal than sitting at home with your Sennheisers in front of a computer screen. Just sayin’
With the lines between the different metal genres being obscured and distorted daily by the influx of band in and around the PNW, it can be hard to tell the difference between a black metal band or a doom metal band. Many groups have begun incorporating elements from the wide spectrum available, and Stoneburner is no different in this regard. With heavy repetitive riffs that remind me of some early UK death metal like Bolt Thrower that change drastically (but not offensively) into an almost power metal feel creates Stoneburner’s own uniqueness. Combined with with slow growling vocals that distort their macabre lyrics (that of course you can’t understand without the album insert) gave me a very hopeful impression in the beginning of the album.
Later on they definitely slow things down into the stoner/doom metal feel, while keeping the same distorted, riff heavy feel. This sound resonates throughout the rest of the album, and makes for a really heavy, dark and angry mood. While not entirely unique, Stoneburner brings to the table a very well crafted album and a live performance that is genuinely enjoyable. I can’t wait to listen to what can become of the, There is also talk on the rumor mill of a double vinyl LP with Stoneburner and Ninth Moon Black, and I hope this becomes a reality. And I better have a reserved copy, fuckers.
Stoneburner is: Damon, Elijah, Jason & Jesse
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stoneburner.PDX?ref=ts
Bandcamp: http://stoneburner.bandcamp.com/
Gehyspace: http://releases.seventhrule.com/album/sickness-will-pass
Buy the album here: http://releases.seventhrule.com/album/sickness-will-pass
