Burning Sun – ‘Power To Survive’

(Pride & Joy Music)

There are some albums that grab you by the throat from the very first note and refuse to let go. Then there are albums like Burning Sun’s Power To Survive, which arrive with plenty of energy, enthusiasm and the right ingredients, but ultimately leave you thinking, “Yeah, that was pretty good” before reaching for something else. This is a fast, enjoyable slice of Power Metal that does exactly what it says on the tin, but unfortunately doesn't do an awful lot to distinguish itself from the crowded field.

Burning Sun clearly know their Power Metal. Power To Survive comes charging out of the blocks with speed, precision and plenty of that familiar heroic atmosphere that fans of the genre will immediately recognise. The guitars race along at a healthy pace; the drums keep everything moving at a brisk clip and there is enough bombast in the arrangements to give proceedings an appropriately grandiose feel. It is energetic music, and there is certainly nothing here that could be described as dull.

The problem is that it is also incredibly familiar.

There is a very well-established template for European Power Metal, and Burning Sun follow it almost religiously. Fast galloping riffs, soaring melodies, dramatic arrangements, uplifting themes and plenty of fist-pumping moments are all present and correct. The band deliver everything competently, but Power To Survive rarely feels as though it is pushing beyond the boundaries of what we've heard countless times before.

That isn't necessarily a criticism for listeners who simply want their Power Metal to sound like Power Metal. In fact, for those fans this album could prove to be an enjoyable addition to the collection. There is something reassuring about an album that doesn't overcomplicate matters. Burning Sun don't disappear down endless progressive rabbit holes or attempt to reinvent the genre. They play fast, melodic and straightforward Power Metal, and they do it with obvious affection for the style.

Pancho Ireland’s guitars are perhaps the strongest aspect of the record. There is plenty of movement and momentum in the riffs, while the lead work adds the expected flashes of melody and technical ability. Nothing feels particularly groundbreaking, but the playing is tight and suitably energetic. When the band are firing on all cylinders, there is an infectious quality to the music that makes it difficult not to tap your foot along.

The rhythm section does exactly what is required, keeping the whole thing charging forward without ever becoming overly complicated. Edmond Kulcsár’s drums have that familiar Power Metal gallop, while Zoltán Papi’s bass provides a solid foundation underneath the guitars. Again, it is all perfectly respectable stuff, although there are few moments that really demand attention.

Vocally, Nicolas Peter fits comfortably within the genre. There is a suitably dramatic delivery and enough power to handle the bigger moments, but once again there isn't a huge amount of individuality. The melodies are accessible and easy enough to follow, and the vocal arrangements contribute nicely to the album's uplifting character. It works, but rarely surprises.

And perhaps that word sums up Power To Survive better than anything else: works.

There is nothing particularly bad here. In fact, quite the opposite. Burning Sun have put together a polished and enjoyable collection of songs that should appeal to anyone who likes their Power Metal fast, melodic and heroic. The production gives everything enough punch, the performances are solid and the arrangements have enough variety to prevent the album from becoming completely repetitive.

Yet for all that, I found myself wishing for a little more personality.

The best Power Metal albums have something that makes them immediately identifiable. Whether it is a distinctive vocalist, an unusual melodic approach, an especially memorable songwriting style or simply that indefinable spark that separates the great from the merely competent, there needs to be something that makes you want to come back. Power To Survive has plenty of ingredients, but very little that feels uniquely Burning Sun.

Thematically, the album also embraces the genre's familiar world of light, faith, struggle, brotherhood, survival and overcoming adversity. It suits the music perfectly, although again there is little here that feels especially fresh. This is Power Metal territory we've travelled many times before.

Still, perhaps I'm being a little harsh. Not every album needs to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes you simply want fast guitars, pounding drums, soaring melodies and a positive atmosphere, and Power To Survive delivers precisely that. There are enough enjoyable moments here to make it a worthwhile listen, particularly for genre devotees who are less concerned with originality and more interested in having another solid Power Metal record to throw onto the stereo.

Ultimately, Power To Survive is a perfectly competent album that falls somewhere in the middle of the Power Metal pack. It is fast, melodic, energetic and enjoyable, but also undeniably standard fare. Burning Sun have demonstrated that they understand the genre and can execute it effectively; now they need to find that distinctive spark that will make their next release stand out from the crowd.

For now, Power To Survive is an album that is easy to enjoy while it is playing, but equally easy to forget once it has finished. Nothing offensive, nothing embarrassing and certainly nothing dreadful, just a solid, middle-of-the-road Power Metal release that does exactly what you expect and not much more.

6/10

Essential Track – ‘Spirit Alive’

Review by Woody