BURST — Lazarus Bird (review)

BURST — Lazarus Bird album cover Album · 2008 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Lazarus Bird" is the 5th full-length studio album by Swedish progressive post-hardcore act Burst. The album was released through Relapse Records in September 2008. It´s the successor to "Origo" from 2005 and for now (march 2020) it´s the final release by Burst as they disbanded in 2009 after completing their US tour supporting "Lazarus Bird". Burst lived relatively unnoticed in the underground in their formative years but when they signed with Relapse Records for the release of their third album "Prey on Life (2003)" things started rolling for the band and with "Origo (2005)" they further strengthened their profile and position on the scene.

In that light "Lazarus Bird" is actually a bit of a surprise, as it´s probably the most progressive, adventurous, and challenging album by Burst. There´s no compromise here, trying to cater to a more mainstream audience to gain commercial success. Instead "Lazarus Bird" is a statement of artistic integrity and the album pretty surely sounds exactly how Burst wanted it to sound like.

Burst were always a pretty adventurous post-hardcore act, and both "Prey on Life (2003)" and "Origo (2005)" are quite accomplished albums in terms of compositional sophistication and technical playing, but "Lazarus Bird" sees Burst take it to the next level. The 8 tracks on the 59:51 minutes long album average 7:30 minutes in length, and all feature many sections and musical changes. Burst are an incredibly well playing band and they of course execute the complex tracks with ease. The rhythm section is strong, powerful, yet organic, the two guitarists compliment each other well throughout the album with layered counterpoint riffs and melodies, and on top are the harsh shouting hardcore vocals by Linus Jägerskog. Burst started toying with clean vocals on "Origo (2005)" and that element is continued on "Lazarus Bird". Sometimes "regular" clean vocals and sometimes effect laden clean vocals.

While the tracks are relatively complex and the uncompromising nature of the material should be praised, I´m not so sure I think the band went down the best possible road on "Lazarus Bird". The tracks often lack the immediate aggression and impact of the material on the two direct predecessors, and at times Burst sound like they experiment with the songs and their sound for the sake of it, and not because a particular part fits the track. So while "Lazarus Bird" is certainly an interesting listen, and it´s overall a well played, well produced, and well written release, it´s also compositionally a bit incoherrent (ideas seem to come from left and right), and the tracks could have prospered from a more strict musical direction and maybe some culling. It´s still a high quality release though and a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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