The Burning North releases their debut self-titled long player. Lyricist Thomas Siering and producer Marco Giovino make up The Burning North. The album features Wendy Drown on vocals.
Recorded at Dagotown Recorders, the album was engineered and mixed by Sam Margolis and mastered by Tom Waltz. Giovino and Siering handled production and arrangements.
Contributors on the album include Chris Rival (guitar, slide guitar), Andy Santospago (guitar, pedal steel, acoustic guitar), Neal Pawley (bass, acoustic guitar, baritone guitar), Marco Giovino (drums, percussion, keyboards on “Left Him Yet”), and Kelly Knapp (backing vocals).
Talking about the album, Siering says, “The material for ‘The Burning North’ was originally conceived as a bit of a concept album. When we brought Wendy (Drown) on board, you could hear her instant emotional attachment to the material. She really owned it. You felt like she had lived it. The record shines because of that.”
Encompassing 11 tracks, highlights include “Everything Into Nothing,” a low-slung, shadowy tune topped by Drown’s sensual, Siren-like voice – at once portentous and mysterious. The swaying motion of the melody is irresistible yet radiates an aura of risk. This track is a personal favorite and perhaps the best song on the album.
“Best Damn Player,” a sleazy country rocker, finds Drown strutting her amazing vocals, imbuing the lyrics with nasty flair. Grinding guitars give the melody beckoning, grimy flavors that put a hook in you.
A slow, gooey country blues song, “Truck Driving Man” allows Drown to show off her tender side as well as her drawling inflections. “24 Hours,” another country rocker, features snarling guitars and Drown’s down-and-dirty vocals. This is a rough, tough song with a thread of vulnerability running through it.
“Older” ties the album off with style – a swampy, country-flavored blues song highlighted by sneering, grimacing guitars and Drown’s evocative vocals, vaguely reminiscent of Janis Joplin.
With their full-length debut, The Burning North releases an album that demands multiple listens. It’s that good. And Wendy Drown can sing!
Discover more about The Burning North here.
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Song Premiere: The Burning North “Gainesville (1 am)”
