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Album Reviews : Burweed – Hide

By on March 6, 2015

burweed-hide_album_coverAs someone who hadn’t had much exposure to post-metal, I tentatively went into this album review aware of my ignorance. After listening to the album through twice in its entirety, I researched the band to find that they were still shrouded in obscurity, which is puzzling considering the overall polish and melodic sensibility of the album. Burweed’s Hide is an incredibly rich album that betrays the band’s somewhat unknown status.

The guitar work displayed on Hide is simple, slow, but also very deliberate. Each riff feels like it’s in exactly the right place, and it switches between fuzzy disatortion, clean and acoustic arpeggios, and a multitude of effects. Be prepared for a lot of shoegazing, which is seemingly almost assured from a proclaimed post-metal band. The album is very bass heavy, in a good way. The bass lines are, for the most part, separates riffs and passages from the guitar, so it takes several listens to appreciate each section of the song.

Vocals are a pained scream which come along at regular intervals throughout songs, however do not stick around too long, and some passages are completely bereft of vocals. Other sections contain soft, clean vocals that add more to the somber tone.

The drum work is also very deliberated. The double kicking never feels too simplistic, and the cymbals crash and splash to accompany the crescendos of each song. The drums provide an excellent backdrop to both the overcast and invigorating landscapes of each song.

The album opens with swallow, which chugs along at constant pacing and gives us a brief taste of thoughtful riffing and the atmosphere to come. “Lye” maintains the flavor of the former, with simple yet entrancing leads and emotive chord progressions. “Lie” is probably my favourite track on the album, opening up with another simplistic, melodic riff that leads into a riff that reminds me of my days in high school on late summer nights listening to A Perfect Circle for hours on end. “Lie” also provides harsh, distorted vocals over clean guitars, which is a nice contrast that not many bands I know of attempt on a regular basis. They should. “Dilate” includes interesting rhythmic patterns accentuated by the drum work, and is one of the longer songs on the album. “Tire Iron” contains some very ambient clean vocals, but drags on for a bit too long, taking too long to get to the forlorn outro riff. “Hide/Defend” is a great ending to the album, providing an overview of everything experienced beforehand, and ends with a soft, haunting ambience that stirs hope of a bright future to come.

This album is very simple at face value, but there is nothing boring about it, as it plunges to depths of complexity in its composition. Each song has its particular moments that make them worth listening to in their own right, which is very rare in a world full of filler songs. For the patient, the tranquil, and the open-minded, this is an exceedingly rewarding album, and for everyone else, it’s still undeniably worth getting, as it has most certainly proven post-metal’s potency.

Band: Burweed
Album: Hide
Year: 2015
Genre: Post-metal
Label: Independent
Origin: Finland

Track list:
1. Swallow
2. Lye
3. Lie
4. Dilate
5. Tire Iron
6. Hide/Defend

About

Benjen is a qualified teacher residing in the south-east suburbs of Perth. Benjen was introduced to hard rock at the age of 12 with Papa Roach's "Love-Hate Tragedy," and has developed a love for hard rock and metal since. He also has a keen interest in gaming and almost every fandom imaginable, from Doctor Who to Deadpool. He can be followed on Twitter @thetoadmode