Album Review :
Auburn - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

Artist: Auburn
Album: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
Label: Blue Duck Records
Release Date: January 13, 2009
Review by: Eric Pettersson

Tracklisting:
1. Waking Snakes
2. Barn Burner
3. Like Trying to Kiss a Freight Train
4. Wise Guys
5. Party Song

The guys in Auburn show a maturity to their music and lyrics that is hard to find on a debut EP. The thick, thundering, grooving guitars are technical enough to write a tight riff but fun enough to get you moving, especially during the breakdowns. The vocals are strong, with intense screams throughout, matched with the occasional clean singing to add a melodic side to this ferocious rampage. “Like Trying to Kiss a Freight Train” brings in a heavy Southern rock influence with cow bell and Maylene-esque guitars, while “Party Song” closes the record with a nice full-band sing-a-long after tearing through more of Auburn’s hardcore blend. It’s seriously impossible to not start dancing on the breakdown to this last song. Cheesy acronyms aside, BIBLE is one of the best hard music releases I’ve heard this year.

Overall: This is one album you have to listen to LOUD. A great debut with tons of energy, for fans of Every Time I Die, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, or August Burns Red.

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