Style: melodic death metal, progressive metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Wintersun, Opeth, Blind Guardian
Review by: Sam
Country: Germany
Release date: 13 March, 2020
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This review was originally published in the Missed Albums 2020 issue of The Progressive Subway.]
It always baffles me how much amazing stuff we miss over the course of the year. A large part of it I can understand. For as thorough as our searching method is, some albums just slip outside the scope of where we search. And some albums get on the list, but just don’t get picked for reviewing for whatever reason. This is a case of the former. I only found out about it browsing RateYourMusic 2020 lists somewhere way down the line. Turns out it wasn’t tagged as progressive on Metal-Archives, but only as melodeath. It could be that their previous work was not progressive, but this is definitely a prog metal album as much as it is melodeath.
The thing that struck me the most about this record is how pretty it sounds. Especially the clean vocals leave an immediate impact with their immense power and clarity. Their singer has a beautiful voice. His delivery is just incredibly memorable. I wouldn’t say he soars above the music in the way a power metal singer would, but something about his voice is just exactly that. Sharp, soaring, beautiful, but in no way theatrical. And instrumentally I could say the same thing about this record. It’s bright and cinematic much in the vein of Wintersun style melodeath. I’ve not listened much to them, but it’s enough to say this is not a clone. This record is very bright and vibrant, giving much of a spring vibe. They use very warm, cinematic background synths, and the tempo of the songs is high, giving the songs a healthy sense of urgency. It’s a truly invigorating sound they struck on this album (so it’s much recommended for all you depressed winter folks out there!).
Because this album is just peak melodeath. It’s a genre that for me can often feel cookie-cutter, but Burden of Life are in no way generic. Maybe their riffs aren’t the strongest you’ve ever heard, but the entirety of their songwriting is just next-level. With their cinematic base they cycle through many different shades of melodeath, and get a much greater sonic template to work with which they make full use of. Between tearful moments of grief with soulful singing and touching piano melodies, triumphant marching drums with soaring leads, and more aggressive thrashy melodeath parts, this band takes you to all sides of the emotional spectrum with their dynamic range. The Makeshift Conqueror really lives up to the “cinematic” moniker with the journey it takes you on.
It’s hard to criticize this album for much at all. If I had to pick one aspect, it would be the more straightforward melodeath parts which tend to feel a bit generic. Other than that though, I really can’t think of anything. I mean, just listen to the vibrant beauty of “Geistesblitz” or the combination of the gorgeous vocally-driven interlude of “Trust My Own Heart” with the dynamic second part of the title track, and tell me it’s not incredible. I just can’t see it. If you do find something, please do NOT let me know because I am smitten with this record, and that puts it beyond your puny criticisms, you evil bastard. I’m not sure if this will end up as my album of the year (see you next week!) as Hac San is just really hard to beat, but it will be up for consideration for sure. Well done Burden of Life, well done.
Recommended tracks: Geistesblitz, Anthem of the Unbeloved, Trust My Own Heart; The Makeshift Conqueror, Pt. II
You may also like: Future Indefinite, Orpheus Blade
Final verdict: 9/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Label: Noizgate Records – Facebook | Official Website
Burden of Life is:
– Christian “Kötti” Kötterl (vocals, guitars, lyrics, keyboards, programming)
– Michael “Schafi” Schafberger (guitars)
– Karl Arnold Bodarwé (bass, vocals)
– Mathias Babl (drums, percussion)
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