| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Alan Zaring |
| Record Label: Girder Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2025 | Artist Website: The World Will Burn |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 39:24 |
Conventional wisdom suggests you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken. Sound advise, right? Girder Records June of 2025 fourth The World Will Burn album Burn Baby, Burn leans into that philosophy, following the same tried and true metal and hard rock framework within a modern to grungy inclining of previous efforts Severity (2016), RuiNation (2017) and Nothing’s As Real As It Seems (2019). Metal and hard rock in terms of unfaltering rhythm guitar placed forward in the mix but also not modern to fault in that The World Will Burn sidesteps any contrived rap, core and screamed vocal propensities. Upshot is a sound that is current but also stays true to the past.
Another constant is manner in which The World Will Burn remains the project of iconic vocalist Dale Thompson (Bride) and multi-instrumentalist (guitars, bass & drums) Alan Zaring. The two maintain their penchant to create music that “transcends culture, language, and genres while focusing on emotion and passion rather than commercial success” (as taken from The World Will Burn press material). The group furthermore will “change the way you look at hard rock music: New, fresh sounds combined with classic influences and thoughtful lyrics; power merged with grace; explosiveness married to innocence; rage fused with compassion.”
Burn Baby, Burn finds The World Will Burn building upon its emphasis on undeniable hooks, riffs and melodies to create by far its most accessible material to date. Opener “Draw The Line” stands out in such regard with its immediate groove driven propensities. Song otherwise impresses of classic Bride track “Troubled Times” (off Kinetic Faith from 1991) with its bluesy guitar and vocal interchange. Speaking of which, Dale imparts his signature at times gravely and earthy and others soulful vocal delivery.
Subsequent cut “Drowning” is on the same level. It mirrors The World Will Burn hard rock side with its profound guitar overtones (riffs are off the charts in terms of catchiness) but also modern in light of the offbeat keyboards (resonating of the haunting). Lots going on here when also factoring the eighties tinged refrain and bluesy guitar instrumental moments- I do not know who contributes lead guitar whether Zaring or guest guitarist and brother Troy Thompson but it is adeptly played. Lyric snippet:
Drowning in everything that I thought I loved
Standing before You now, I am judged
Drowning in everything, choking it down to the last drop
Drowning in everything, no one said to stop
Am I at the end, I can’t repent
I am drifting away
Jesus, your mercy uphold my soul
With Your love and grace
“Dying Man” dominates equally. Song ups tempo to turbulent territory, bouncing its span to mirthful rhythm guitar and bass interplay in taking heaviness to the next level but also evoking of the sonorous from standpoint of another voluminous melody to hold sway. What we have is another joining of modern groove and singular metal furbishes. Lone complaint is that “Dying Man” is a bit short at just under three minutes.
Later in the track listing but of similar form is “Light It Up”. A great deal of diversity here, ranging from periodic stoner-groove-doom guitars to reticent moments covered by calmer acoustic lacing, with the unblemished melody of a turn the head variety serving to compress both aspects together. Allowing further distinction are vocals of a borderline spoken word form. Lyric snippet:
Light it up, burn it down to the ground
I go to prepare a place for you
So you might be where I am
In my Father’s house are many mansions
One has died for all so all have died now live now
In your resurrected life
To go beyond where you have gone before
Follow up cut “On Bloody Knees” rates with my favorites. As albums lengthiest at five minutes, it slowly fades in prior to clouting guitars with a grunge like feel and bizarre keyboards (speaking positively) taking over. In between periodic explosions of cacophonous angst, song projects a down turned low-end melody of a radio friendly nature- this one would have dominated airwaves during the nineties. Of equal note is Dale’s falsetto like screams.
Album further hits its stride over its final three songs beginning with “Ten Thousand Saints”. What we have is a determined plodder of an undeniable form with its incontestable rhythms - referencing the severe verse sections - but also radiating in reference to the ascending bearing, as revealed in another endearing refrain. I cannot help but think of The Jesus Experience era Bride. Lyric snippet:
I say it now, I proclaim it loud
Look what’s going down now
Here we are in the ever after
Living our best eternity
Nothing left to come
Reconciled we are in the Son
On this great and terrible day
Look what has been done
With ten thousand saints and one mean machine
Look who has come upon the scene
Aptly entitled “The Saddest Song” equal doses of downtrodden mid-tempo grit - rhythm guitar impels between the left and right channels - and somber melody, distinguishing the mournful lower register vocals. I sense a seventies-tinged classic rock flair when factoring the blues tinged moodiness.
“Who Am I” impresses as albums most inventive and outside the box. Song ethereally endeavors its span over a bristling guitar foundation as Dale lowers his register with a baritone form. At the halfway point, however, it detonates to full on energy as vocals expand in intensity and guitar digs and bites with hard rock authority. I sense a bit of progressiveness here. Lyric snippet:
Living is a battle, life is a war
Instead of love they want to even the score
Don’t let the hard times drag you down
If I have and not have given it
If I have seen the naked and not clothed them
If I have not done to the least of these
I have not done them to thee
Remaining three songs might be a slight notch below but are solid all the same. My favorite is “Fight”, a groovy to funky three minutes with shouted ‘fight!, fight!, fight!’ backing vocals and exultant Lord’s Prayer inspired refrain: Your kingdom come, your will be done. The undulating Bride style guitars help song to rank with albums heaviest.
The remaining two songs “Pull You Through” and “Searcher” impress as underdone due to not reaching three minutes. Former has a lot going for it in terms of somber melody, laid back semblance and solemn bass but ends abruptly at just two and half minutes, while latter elevates at the accentuated tempo with melodic harmonies and uplifting form but also cuts out too suddenly. In my opinion if extended an extra minute or two, either song would have opportunity to make a more defining statement. Still, neither is skip-worthy or falls within under filler heading.
Burn Baby, Burn represents another strong step in the evolution of The World Will Burn. Albums better material is outstanding and reflects the efforts of Zaring and Dale Thompson to compose songs that are heavy but memorable while successfully walking a fine line between modern and old school. You will encounter plenty of catchy hooks, riffs and melodies to celebrate with repeat play. Lone complaint is I wish the span of several songs were extended, but give the group credit for composing eleven cuts in that while some are better than others, there is nothing worthy passing on either. Moving forward I encourage the group to stretch its musical boundaries and explore the progressive side to its songwriting with a couple songs in the seven to eight minute range. Regardless, you cannot go wrong with Burn Baby, Burn- I encourage making it a purchase if a fan of The World Will Burn or any joining of metal and hard rock with a modern edge.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Draw The Line” (3:57), “Drowning” (4:02), “Dying Man” (3:08), “Fight” (3:11), “Light It Up” (3:35), “On Bloody Knees” (4:54), “Pull You Through” (2:39), “Searcher” (2:49), “Ten Thousand Saints” (3:28), “The Saddest Song” (3:52), “Who I Am” (3:45)
Musicians
Dale Thompson - Lead Vocals
Alan Zaring - Guitars, Bass, Drums, Programming & Background Vocals
Additional Musicians
Troy Thompson - Guitars
