Burn The Fleet  - Self Titled EP

Hi there. Looking for passion, technicality, melody, ambition, and a Spanish Galleon-full of tunesmanship? If so, look the way of Southampton newcomers Burn The Fleet, who bring all of the above to their debut self titled mini album, newly out on Walnut Tree Records. While it’s possible to lump these guys into the now impossibly packed post hardcore bracket this five-strong introduction shows that Burn The Fleet have more strings to their bow than the term might suggest, repeatedly flitting from cortex-muddling riff to cathartic chorus in the matter of a few bars. There’s Sikth (or at least latter day INME) here as well as Thrice, and it’s really refreshing to hear a band who’re unafraid of carving out their own slant as opposed to reciting the gospel as written by At The Drive-In... Though as an ability to share stages with, for example, Madina Lake and Senses Fail demonstrates, there are enough mainstream reference points here to carry casual listeners (and those not versed in the sacred art of the irrational rhythm) through the sonic melee relatively unscathed. As sorrowful closer ‘Handfuls of Sand’ fades away it’s difficult not to be impressed, if a little drained; the EP’s maritime themed narrative is in itself enough to have you hugging the ground before you’ve even factored in the slippery riffs and unremitting thunder of drummer Russ Barbour. BTF have announced themselves in style.