ALBUM REVIEW: Southern Hostility – Upon A Burning Body
It’s been an interesting few years for Texan groove metal outfit UPON A BURNING BODY. They have recently concluded their long standing relationship with Sumerian Records with a view to reinventing themselves and getting back to their roots. It is almost time to see if this decision has paid dividends as their latest effort Southern Hostility is due for release on June 7th via Seek & Strike. Will this release assist in taking them to new heights?
Southern Hostility skips the pleasantries by greeting you with an utterly savage intro/breakdown before King Of Diamonds smothers you in groove infused riffing and a bouncy tempo. The battle lines have been drawn and UPON A BURNING BODY aren’t here to mess around. Danny Leal expels bursts of pure aggression which flow over into All Pride, No Pain. This track possesses all the hallmarks of a set piece capable of unleashing absolute carnage in a live environment. The chugging guitar work and punchy drumming are like a bolt of lightning straight to your chest.
The Champ Is Coming continues the addictive nature with a pulsing drum beat and addictive riff segments alongside an anthemic chorus line which would be the ideal addition to your gym playlist. Reinventing Hatred opens with an eerie echoes before launching into demonic atmospherics and a guttural assault. The melodic lead work bolsters the relentless bludgeoning, showcasing the heavy artillery that the Texan’s have at their disposal and can unload at a moments notice. Burn takes a less chaotic approach, choosing to resume the groovy stride combining with invigorating lyrical roars crying out for pyro to explode from every angle of the stage.
The Anthem Of The Doomed builds up the tension that soon surges into a wall of jabbing guitar work and an unnerving nature signalling the end of the world. Never Alone injects some melody into proceedings with an uplifting intro and energetic vocal pieces. Cymbals ring out as From Darkness kicks it up a gear with some frantic drumming and alluring guitar hooks. Danny Leal’s impassioned screams of “I come from a darkness you’ll never know” resonate throughout the track. Soul Searcher portrays a particularly solemn demeanour with subtle melodies running through the initial stages, this is soon abruptly shoved aside in favour of potent blast beats and a more energetic tone. The chorus lines of “We lost our way but not our hope, searching for a way to come back home” are poignant and appropriate considering their journey to rediscover themselves throughout this album process. Definitely a befitting album closer.
The choice of bonus track Feed My Frankenstein as a bit of nostalgic relief was a great decision which also allowed the quartet to put their own heavy spin on an ALICE COOPER classic. Any Wayne’s World fans will undoubtedly be grinning from ear to ear.
The World Is My Enemy Now brought UPON A BURNING BODY a large amount of notoriety with its chart status but Straight From The Barrio added a lot of division within their fan base. Southern Hostility has righted the ship and put them back on course to their goal of world acclaim. The album is packed full of energising riffs and relatable moments which will restore the fire of old fans as well as lighting a spark for new fans to flock in. The Texan quartet were at a crossroads and this could well turn out to be the most prized release in their catalogue.
Rating: 9/10
Southern Hostility is due for release on June 7th via Seek & Strike.
Like UPON A BURNING BODY on Facebook.