Burntwood “Burntwood”

The long-awaited debut from London’s Burntwood does not disappoint.

Formed in 2021 as an evolution of Modern Hinterland, 4-piece Burntwood’s eponymous release is an infectious debut steeped in early 90s indie-rock sensibilities. As with the previous band, this new incarnation is a collaborative affair with founder Chris Hornsby wanting to create “something communal, exhilarating and loud”

The raucous ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ gets the 11-track collection off to a flying start. The band is tight, and the pounding drums really get the blood pumping. Debut single ‘Landline’ alternates between catchy guitar hooks and ringing power chords in a world where people still have and use a landline (younger readers may need a grown-up to explain it). ‘Loophole’ keeps the indie rock feel going until the easy groove of ‘Wheelspin’ changes the tone for a more Brit-pop feel; the wonky vocal harmonies here may not be to everyone’s taste; similarly, the rough-edged vocals of ‘Fear Is the Sound’ feel a little at odds with the band’s polished musicality.

Good though these previous tracks are, Burntwood excel when they move into more experimental territory. Maintaining the central vibe of the album, the introduction of more disjointed rhythms and vocal effects begins to evoke the style of 90s alt-rockers The Pixies, which the band cite as a musical influence.  As ‘First Past The Post’ opens with distorted guitars, it showcases Burntwood’s versatility beyond conventional rock into a more expansive musical style. Sci-fi themed, dystopian ‘Indicator Species’ (“A signal indicator, a species running out of time”) continues in this more experimental vein, as does ‘Forever Communication’ with its scatter-gun lyrics and jolting cadences. The tone shifts dramatically with the atmospheric ‘First Arrow’, heavy guitar effects, and wave-like percussion create a sublime, immersive instrumental landscape. Sequel ‘Second Arrow’ is a little incongruous as it returns to the band’s rock sound established earlier on in the album, although the avant-garde touches of ‘First Arrow’ creep back in towards the end of the track to provide an element of congruency.

Consistently interesting, Burntwood is a great debut album for those who prefer their americana on the rockier side with some experimental touches to keep the sound fresh.