EP REVIEW: Burning Season – Waves In Autumn
The glorious, picturesque hills of Northern Italy aren’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of heavy bands. Yet, the fact that those beautiful landscapes are in danger of destruction from the lax environmental policies of various governments is enough to instil a large amount of anger and passion into anyone. Step forward WAVES IN AUTUMN, who, on their brand new EP, look to continue the themes and messages shown on their previous effort Totem.
Burning Season is perhaps a bit on the nose for a record about the dangers of modern climate change, but the argument could be made that the time for metaphor has passed and the time for action is upon us. You’d think that would inspire a ferocious, passionate, heart on the sleeve record filled with grit and meaningful moments… that is not the case here.
No atmospheric intro tracks for this record, as Foxland barrels through your speakers pretty instantaneously, chugging and bouncing along amongst some screams that sound suspiciously like Matt Heafy of TRIVIUM on Ascendancy, poor annunciation and all. Musically it’s pretty much the definition of fine, if a bit sounding like a POLARIS knock off, which isn’t surprising given it’s produced by Lance Prenc (THORNHILL, ALPHA WOLF), but what is a shock is that unlike a lot of the other bands he lends his talents to, he’s made them sound incredibly generic. There’s also random bits of cowbell dotted about throughout the record which are more confusing than interesting.
Guest features seem to be the EP’s big selling point, yet none of them have distinct or interesting enough styles to make the tracks that much more interesting. Christopher Volpi from READY SET FALL fails to make the single of Wildheart anything more than something you’d find on the lower end of a Sirius FM chart.
Moments seem to blend into one another and it all feels a little like a hodgepodge of a debut rather than a release from a band five years into their career. Melodies often promise much but fail to stick, and the almost campfire chanting segueing into a djent breakdown part of Goldenwood reeks of a band desperate to try and stand out. Occasionally there are moments of interest and decent riffs but they disappear as quick as a fart in a hurricane.
By the time EP closer Hatchfall has finished and you’re reeling from what sounds like a group of faux edgy youth pastors at a battle of the bands trying to win over some tearaway kids, you’ll honestly be on the side of climate change happening. There’s better bands pushing this message out there, and ones with actual discernible vocals for the message too. Sorry Italy, but this one gets the thing your country is shaped like.
Rating: 3/10
Burning Season is set for release on March 1st via self-release.
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