Burning The Masses
MIND CONTROL

January 2009
Released: 2008, Mediaskare
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Dick Ward

Listening to MIND CONTROL, the first studio release from San Diego based Burning The Masses is a unique experience. Steeped in classic death metal roots with plenty of technical prowess and a few breakdowns to switch things up, Burning the Masses sounds like a band that’s been around for years. The group is amazingly able and one of the tightest non established bands around. 18 years old and younger, these guys play like vets.



From the onset, it’s obvious that the band doesn’t take themselves too seriously. The opener, “Cinema”, is a twenty eight second metal version of the New Line Cinema theme. Not only is it clever, it gives the listener a bit of familiarity and comfort before the first thrashing chords of “Paroxysm of Fear” tear through the speakers. Chason Westmoreland’s impressive drumming is evident from the beginning of the first song to the end of the CD. As incredibly steeped in technique as the band is though, they never seem to forget that good song writing beats out technical know-how every time. Nothing demonstrates this better than the CD’s final track “Galactic Abduction”, an epic instrumental and the perfect close to the CD.



MIND CONTROL is an amazing first effort for the band. With brutal and solo intensive songs like “Cyanide” and “Nailgun Massacre” to satisfy the true death metal fans, and tracks like "La Chupacabra" to break up the CD and give it some variety, Burning The Masses’ MIND CONTROL is one to own.