Review: “Permanent Dawn” by Earthburner

What difference can 13 years make? Back in 2011, in collaboration with vocalist Ryan Richards (Everything Must Die, No Conviction), Broken Hope guitarist Jeremy Wagner and drummer Mike Miczek released an EP together under the name Earthburner. Named after the track from 1999 Broken Hope album “Grotesque Blessings” they made their mark with 5 minutes of classic Death Metal infused Grindcore before going their separate ways a year later as Broken Hope returned with 2013’s “Omen of Disease“. A decade passed and in March 2023 Wagner and Miczek brought back the project with a debut full length album in mind. Needing fresh blood they lined up Wagner’s stepson and Gloryhole Guillotine bassist Tyler Affinito and Sanguisugabogg vocalist Devin Swank with honorary member on back-up frenzied vocals Mitch Harris (Napalm Death, Righteous Pigs). Together with a couple of guests they recorded “Permanent Dawn” with producer Tommy McWilliams (Elegant Weapons) alongside guitarist Jeremy Wagner before it was mixed by Scott Creekmore (Putrid Pile, Waco Jesus) and mastered by Mike Fuller (Obituary, Death, Judas Priest)…

Eleven tracks of uncompromising grind, tinged with after world bleakness and contemporary horror begin to unfurl their wings with opening cut “Necrodisiac“. A vicious and venomous little ditty which features a guest appearance from Ross Dolan of Immolation, it sets the tone as a bomb blast of a raw Death Grind in its purest form. Blistering blast beats and scalding harsh vocals are conjoined to a riff that borders on something groove orientated, giving the first punishment beating a real edge. Throwing fuel on the fire to increase the intensity, the 37 second burst of violent turbulence that is “Like Dogs” has a funky bass solo to accompany a single verse before “Broken Head” hits like a shovel to the face. A cathartic vent that speaks of how the stress, pressure and frustration of everyday life takes its toll, it’s one that resonates lyrically but only when the instruments aren’t beating the living daylights out of your ear drums. No members of Alice In Chains were harmed in the making of “Facelift” although anyone within a hundred yards of the gravity defying death growled low vocals from Swank will have been. Another brutal cut, this one is the first time you clearly hear the shrill backup vocals from Mitch Harris, who it has to be said is the perfect counterweight to oppose Swank, adding another dimension to the bands punishing sound.

Galloping through the forest like the Grimm Reaper on horseback in the dead of night, title track “Permanent Dawn” finds the two vocalists going toe to toe; their screamed vocals intertwining like strands of DNA to create the ultimate hybrid beast. If the Sex Pistols did Deathgrind then this is what it would sound like, the second half of this one having a Hardcore Punk flavour to it that makes for an interesting change up. The only survivor from the debut EP is “Uncreation” and it’s easy to see why. Stylistically a great fit for the album that doesn’t take away from the flow, it goes off like a nail bomb with a buzzsaw riff that borders on old Entombed. What’s great about these cuts is that the backing vocals from Mitch Harris aren’t overdone; they embellish the work of Devin Swank without taking away from it. “Perception For Profit” is the first one where the pair actually feel like a partnership, a thunderous cut in which Death Metal and Hardcore Punk combine like everyone’s favourite Bourbon with a Caramel flavoured mixer. There is no style over substance either, the band simply annihilate everything in their path with their simple and yet lethally effective material.

“Cadaveric Coprophagia” feels like it was raided from a Cannibal Corpse demo, as the drums pound and the razor sharp riffs slice and dice, a slow down in the final third a nice touch. Its easy to see why Wagner cited Terrorizer album “World Downfall” as one of the influences on the project because there is absolutely no let up with the extreme nature of this beast. Fast and loose “Hunger Pains” feels like it was recorded live on the floor, warts and all as the five piece go hell for leather with more groove laden Death Metal riffs lighting the way to the torcher chamber hell in which they reside. Wasting no time in rocking back and forth however, the band swing back with the social commentary that is “Slaves To The Screen“. People seem fixated on what clothes they wear, food they eat and new technology that is out there, their devices turning them into clones enslaved to the giant corporations. So why not turn that into a scream-a-long bone crusher of a tune to enhance their vile reputation? Last but by no means least “Positive Outlook” finds the band joined by Jake Cannavale of Vixen Maw fame and as you might expect it’s more of the same. A tasteful bass solo gets things underway nicely before the vocal duo dance around each other as the riffs fly in all directions. A mid track burst of blast beats lets Miczek stretch his legs before an uncompromising slow down to feedback fade. A promise fulfilled. A world burned. Earthburner will leave you loving the smell of fresh napalm in the morning [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Necrodisiac (ft. Ross Dolan of Immolation)
2. Like Dogs
3. Broken Head
4. Facelift*
5. Permanent Dawn*
6. Uncreation*
7. Perception For Profit*
8. Cadaveric Coprophagia
9. Hunger Pains*
10. Slaves To The Screen*
11. Positive Outlook (ft. Jake Cannavale of Diabolicus, Vixen Maw)

*(ft. Mitch Harris of Napalm Death, Righteous Pigs)

“Permanent Dawn” by Earthburner is out 8th November 2024 via M-Theory Audio