Review: “Dismal” by Burn Down Eden

Having set the tone with their self titled third  album in 2021, Death Thrash merchants Burn Down Eden got a shade darker with their 2022 follow up EP “Sermonize“, a discussion of religious hypocrisy laced with venom. Returning with a new drummer in Warni Warneke and a second EP as part of a deal inked a deal in blood with Seek & Strike Records, how far will this poison apple fall from the Serpent’s tree?

Spitting, snarling and bordering of feral, the vocal performance on opening cut “Reap The Apocalypse” is nothing short of caustic as Burn Down Eden reach a new level of musicianship, tearing through Blackened Death Metal riffs, blast beats and Melodic Death Metal leads like the four horse men from Hell. Lighting the blue touch paper, the flames quickly lick the sky with flavours of At The Gates and early Entombed woven into the sonic abrasions, the intensity of the skull battering nothing short of masterful. A four second introduction is all that “Death Of A Songbird” has before the shotgun blast is fired and the dungeon whippets race hells dog track once more. Another rampage through the darkness with throat splitting vocals and distinctive Scandinavian roots, it’s the fleeting leads that elevate it as the restless and relentless blasting keeps the adrenaline flowing. If this was meant to be a moment of mourning, it sounds more like a killing spree and the breakneck speed of the onslaught doesn’t stop there. Instead “Blood Splattered Symphony” may leave you questioning just how the band are going to match what they did on the record in the live arena, such is the intensity of the skull crushing performance.

Lyrically the Germans once again sound like the bastard child of Psycroptic and Hadal Maw has come home with a bottle of Whiskey and a pack of cigarettes to criticism of humanity and the society we’ve built for ourselves. Once that topic has reached it’s bitter end there is always depression to consider but by point the empty bottle signifies time to hit the hay. The guitars scream majestically as the groove laden “Aim For The Stars” comes in swinging, a distinctive early Lamb Of God vibe in both the guitar tone and vocal performance giving it that air of familiarity, although Pether Hantsche’s bark is far worse than Randy Blythe’s bite. Fierce, firey and furious, it’s one that that will have the mosh pit sweating within seconds. An introspective lyrical narrative which is far more personal than anything else Burn Down Eden have offered here, “The War Within” feels bleaker and colder but still has the earworm riffs to bring home the bacon. A scorching solo gives it a spell binding quality and it has to be said that on this evidence European Summer Festival tours await, such is the quality. Dismal? No. Triumphant. Yes. [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Reap The Apocalypse
2. Death Of A Songbird
3. Blood Splattered Symphony
4. Aim For The Stars
5. The War Within

“Dismal” by Burn Down Eden is out 5th April 2024 via Seek & Strike Records