Album Type : Full Length
Date Released : 03/10/2012
Label : Transubstans
IV Monument, album tracklisting
1) Diamonds 6:04
2) Fire and Water 6:09
3) Tomorrows Dream 4:07
4) Crossing The Lines 6:25
5) The Last Day 7:05
6) Silverwing 7:27
7) The Saviour 6:52
8) Bring Down The Rain 5:11
9) Monument 7:44
Bio
SIDEBURN is a Classic
hardrock/Doom/Blues/Progressive/Stoner band out of Stockholm SWEDEN
Members
Morgan Zocek - Guitar, Background vocals
Jani Kataja - Lead vocals, Guitar
Martin Karlsson - Bass, Organ, Background vocals
Fredrik Haake - Drums, Percussion
Although this is the first time I’ve come across them,
Sideburn have actually been around since 1998, and since then have released a
number of demos/singles, and four full-length albums, of which 2012s ‘IV
Monument’ is the most recent. The album combines a powerful stoner metal sound
reminiscent of bands like Black Label Society and Godsized with a beautiful
touch of progressive influence from prominent 1970s bands like Uriah Heep and
Wishbone Ash. This creates a very interesting and original take on the
traditional stoner sound, which is especially recommended for fans of Mastodon,
Black Label Society and Baroness.
In ‘IV Monument’, Sideburn explore various different
parts of their extensive genre, from the energetic groove of tracks like
‘Diamonds’, the album opener, and ‘Tomorrow’s Dream’, to the slower,
doom-influenced riffage of ‘The Last Day’ and ‘The Saviour’. The band even
venture into more peaceful territory that fans of fellow Swedes Graveyard will
definitely appreciate in ‘Crossing The Lines’. Production throughout the album
is tight, crisp and generally excellent.
A progressive edge to song writing definitely
proves to be a good thing for Sideburn, as, despite an abundance of crushingly
heavy riffs, they seem to have gone out of their way to avoid any of the dull,
repetitive breakdowns that modern bands seem to resort to all too often. Having
said this, I find myself wishing that Sideburn’s guitarists would take a
similarly progressive attitude towards their solos, which, despite a few
notable exceptions, are a little too predictable for my tastes. Equally, while
vocalist Jani Kataja has a supremely powerful voice that rings out monolithically
above heavier tracks, its weakness is exposed by quieter tracks like the
beautiful, grunge-influenced ‘Silverwing’.
Having said this, ‘IV Monument’
comes highly recommended from me. Sideburn have managed to artfully combine
stoner rock with prog, maintaining the balls of the former, and the fragile
beauty of the latter, to create something that is truly original.
Words by: Tal Fineman
Check the links for more info on the bands here. Record is available to buy here and DD at the usual places. Thanks to Morgan Zocek of Sideburn for hooking us up with this record.
