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Burn
“Global Warning’
(Formula One Records)

Burn may be just what Britain needs right now - a solid British band to rekindle the fires of British rock. I gotta admit that sounds like a tall order especially when the name (and opener ‘Shadow of the Satellites’) had me in fear of some kinda Purple tribute band. However, the 11 tracks ‘Global Warning’ prove that Burn are a band in their own right and most of all they’ve got something that I haven’t heard in a long time - a true British rock sound. Cast off by Leppard. Lost by Thunder. Abandoned by the fallen god Blackmore. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. And yet, six little hobbits (well, they’re from Loughborough aren’t they) did not forget and have taken up that sound. I love the guitar sound on this album: thick and fuzzy the way a rock guitar sound - you can imagine Julian Nicolas cranking out those chunky rock riffs and hellfire solos through a smoking stack. And he’s perfectly complemented by Jeff Ogden’s vocals, soulful with just the right amount of ooomph when needed. Together they form the perfect and winning foundation which we’ve seen before in Page & Plant, Blackmore & Gillan etc for Barney Stackhouse’s keyboards (again, just right i.e. adding value without being overpowering) and the steaming rhythm section of Marc Stackhouse and veteran rock drummer Benji Reid III. Together they have achieved a damn near perfect album in every sense musically i.e. energy, cool songs, good production and musicianship that I never thought possible from a buncha Brits who nearly died a premature death in the 90s so well done lads! You’ve brought it all back again so burn baby, buuurrn!

-Shan Siva