ALBUM REVIEW: Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation – Silverburn

James Isaac, better known as Jimbob, has had a storied career in UK extreme music, both as a musician and an artist. As a member of both the brilliant TAINT and HARK, Isaac made great riff-filled albums (check out Secrets And Lies by the former and Machinations by the latter for proof) and both bands gained reputations for powerful must-see live shows. His vivid artwork is incredible as well, creating artwork for bands like MASTODON, CLUTCH and CONVERGE and festivals like Damnation and ArcTanGent over the years in a style that has always seemed to work alongside his music in terms of impact and vision.

Now, he returns to music with his latest project SILVERBURN and the album Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation, and it’s great to have him back, especially when the music is as crushing and captivating as this. Things start as they mean to go on as opening track Annihilation kicks things off perfectly, and there couldn’t be a more aptly-named track as this is sheer annihilation in sonic form, delivering an insane heaviness that doesn’t relent until closing number Bathe In Fire rings out.

The power of the music of SILVERBURN is joyously unrelenting and takes its inspiration from the likes of TODAY IS THE DAY, UNSANE and CONVERGE while undoubtedly having its own vibe and energy, resulting in a lesson in passionately noise-laden music. Songs such as the utterly pounding Pain Body (Torn From Auric Field), The Unrelenting Will Of Boundless Immortality and Etheric Crush combine skill-crushing riffs and titanium level grooves with an almost cinematic but bleak heaviness to create a caustic listening experience that sounds as monumentally cathartic as extreme music can get.

One of the great things about Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation is that it is a solo album in every sense of the term, with Isaac performing everything on it himself, and in doing so, demonstrating exactly what a talented musician he is as the riffs, grooves and passionate and formidable vocals come at you at a relentless pace. It’s a fantastic album, passionately delivered with a powerful energy that resonates through all eight of its tracks, and Isaac doesn’t let up in his pursuit of pure musical demolition as each of the songs takes over.

Even though Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation is a solo album and works well as one, the band have announced that they will be playing live (having grown to a three-piece) which is great news for those at ArcTanGent and beyond as these songs will simply slay live. Don’t miss the chance to let them truly annihilate you in a live setting, but until then revel in the epic heaviness of this record over and over again. Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation is music to cleanse your soul through sheer sonic oblivion.

Rating: 8/10

Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation is set for release on August 11th via MSH Music Group. 

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