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Artist: Burden of a Day
Album: OneOneThousand
Label: Rise Records
Release Date: May 12, 2009
Review by: Michael Mayer III
Tracklisting:
- Remember
- Fool Me Once
- The Mason
- Oceans
- The Shame in Shedding Wool
- Sly Foxes
- Isadora Duncan
- OneOneThousand
- Modern Gentleman
- My Forfeit
In between their last album and this one, Burden of a Day had the type of lineup change that could break a band. Their singer, Kendall, left the band to get married and pursue the next stage of his life with God and Kyle came in to take over. Needless to say, they didn’t lose a step as Kyle has an amazing range in his singing and it’s one of the of OneOneThousand. There are vocal hooks aplenty as he belts out catchy choruses that just will NOT leave my head. He’s also backed up by some very impressive gang vocals that come in on chants or the good ol’ ‘Woah woah woah’s’.
The singing to screaming ratio is probably around 50/50 and when there is screaming it’s a nice range of highs and lows that give the songs an aggressive tone. There are frequent moments across the albums (at least 5 or 6 times) where the music will go silent and a heavy bass kick will blast in followed by some low growling and a fun breakdown. It’s nothing a band in this mold of post-hardcore/screamo hasn’t done before and after the first few times you come to predict it in every song.
That’s one of the things that drags this album down. The songs aren’t necessarily formulaic as the choruses and singing parts (which aren’t exclusive to the chorus, thank God) change up from song to song but some tricks are used a little too often. The album is also short with only ten tracks clocking in at just 35 minutes and one of those is a short instrumental (‘Oceans’) that serves as an intro to the strongest song, ‘The Shame in Shedding Wool’. That track is great with it’s unique structure and fun lyrics. Others, like ‘Isadora Duncan’ and the closer ‘My Forfeit’, have an epic quality with the guitars stirring up a mood and the gang vocals sweeping you into it.
Overall: Since the focus is more on melody than screaming this certainly isn’t the heaviest album in stores this year but it has it’s place. Sometimes I’m not in the mood for the most brutal piece of music known to man and I just want to rock out to some uplifting music to get my spirits up. OneOneThousand fits the bill for that despite not being the most original album and occasionally repetitive. Every time I spin this I end up cranking the volume, singing along loudly and have a blast all around. Sometimes originality and experimental music is more of a chore. After all, music is supposed to be fun, right?
Gems of this album are: ‘Remember’, ‘The Shame in Shedding Wool’, ‘Isadora Duncan’, ‘My Forfeit’
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I actually thought this was decent album
You know, I think a lot of people will so long as they don’t have sky high expectations going into it. That may sound kinda bad but when you get down to it this is a really fun, enjoyable album.
I agree Mike
Don’t be cheap. 7/10? Either way, they are trying to copy Forgiven Rival.
I’m not up on this band as much as others, but from some of the songs I get a Haste the Day “Dreamer” vibe from it. That isn’t a bad thing but, much like the reviewer said, that sound can get repetitive fast.
It’s funny you mention that Aaron, I got the same vibe occasionally. I think it’s mostly the singing and the gang vocals that remind me of ‘Dreamer’, which I loved. ‘Dreamer’ is probably a bit heavier overall though, even with the 2 soft tracks.
I am sorry, who is Forgiven Rival? and yeah… BOAD has always sounded like someone else, but definitely one of the better bands out there.
Dreamer is heavier by far. And like you I liked the album alot, it just lost it’s luster rather quickly. As far as BOAD, I went back and listen to their other album and I have to say that is some good stuff. If I had to choose between the old and the new, I prefer their older style. Its a little bit of They’re Only Chasing Safety Underoath blended with some Gwen Stacy-like heaviness and vocal style.
Very impressed. Might drop $10 bucks on it.
I preordered this, and I’m glad I did, I really like it. “Remember” is so ridiculously catchy. I’d give it a 8.5/10
Love this album so much. BOAD > TDWP
def. not.
you can’t really compare the two. both are amazing in their own right, and extremely talented.
i was worried after kendall left because i’ve seen too many bands go under when something like that happens. fortunately kyle is an even better singer and the melodies are ridiculously catchy. some of the choruses have an almost 80s rock vibe IMO which i kind of like. i do agree that it is too short and some of the songs are predictable. overall though, this is a solid, fun, album.
ehhh.. i thought their last one was just ok, got a little boring. is this one any better? haevier/softer? i dont have any speakers, so i cant listen for myself before buying.
Jacob, I’d say it’s maybe about the same as far as heavy/soft goes. Maybe a bit softer if you focus more on screaming/singing. This is a really fun album to listen to thanks to the singing and because of that I bumped the score up to an 8. Albums this fun can’t be docked too many points since that’s why we listen to music. Give me this over a boring, original album anyday.
well in my opinion i will miss kendall alot i LOVED their last album it still stand as my favourite album and i have wide tastes considering i listen to things from bryan adams to impending doom and all inbetween but i agree with michael that this album is very fun (remember is my favourite song good mix of great singing and screaming and both vocalists voices work well i hope im right in the fact that kendall featured in this song) its worth buying id rate it about 8/10 too. good rating =]
Burden’s new album is great. The perfect balace in music. Kyle’s voice adds to the album, i must say i saw them in jaxs fla tuesday night they were incredible live!!!!!! They were part of a great line up but they’re talent stole the show. Much love to the band and the new album
i have to say, kyle’s vocals amazed me in remember, which i originally bought to preview the new sound. i have since bought the whole album and it blows me away. i was skeptical, but it was biased because i am long time friends with BOAD, also being from sarasota and having opened for them a couple times when they toured with Means and Life In Your Way and For Today. this album seems more mature than in the past, and more well-rounded in production quality. personally, Pilots & Paper Planes is their best (and first) album, but Oneonethousand is pretty dang close. i would give this cd 8.5/10 :)