Powderburn Press (Reviews, Awards and Interviews)

CD Review - One Fix

2010-06-23T16:40:00.001-07:00

Powderburn "One Fix". The name alone gives you a pretty good idea what to expect from "One Fix", their new 10 song release. But you'll find more here than you anticipated from this talented 4 piece. Sure it follows the tired and true heavy rock format: riff driven songs, frantic double bass drumming, grownling vocals, and the obligatory 'change of pace song' (Slowly Divide). However, it's a format that still works if done well...and Powderburn does it well.

The cd kicks off with "Black Untold", a brutal and not so subtle political commentary. The hard hitting title track follows. It's not too often that you hear a heavy rock song with a memorable hook, but "One Fix' falls into this category.

More mayhem follows. Great vocal arrangements, slick dynamics, and an effective melody highlight "The Lights Go Down." Lockman shows off legitmate vocal chops on "The Descending", a dark take on human relationships.

One of Powderburn's strongest elemetns is the lyrical sophistication they display on such tunes as "Observe" and "One by One". The words, while aggressive, are powerful, deep, and just vague enough to leave the songs open to intereptation. This allows for an even greater percentage of listening audience to relate to the music and the message.

The CD is called "One Fix" and the band is Powderburn. My guess is you'll be hearing more about both in the near future.

www.powderburn.net

That's all for now folks. See ya next time and keep those CDs and promo packs coming!

Comments, questions, contact Hollywood Steve at www.2ndwind.cc

Mass Movement (UK) - Interview with Ken

2009-10-25T21:51:00.000-07:00

Show Review - Houston, TX - Ghostlaborradio.com

2009-02-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

Fitzgerald's 01-24-2009 Show Review

On Saturday, January 24th, 2008, Ghost Labor Radio attended the LSPS/ "Leave Your Genre At the Door" concert series at Fitzgerald's in Houston, Texas. The bill included many awesome Houston, Austin and Galveston area bands, including LSPS and Melovine, and hip hop acts such as Perseph 1. First, I would like to commend Fitz for putting together such a diverse show with wide ranging acts. As a former music executive, one of my passions is to not box in performers solely based upon their genre. Why shouldn't a hot local area Rock Band be allowed to co-exist during a concert performance with a scorching hip hop talent? As long as the acts have a balance and provide music that the crowd enjoys, let's just enjoy the music.

We were able to witness several acts:
Sad Gorilla
Wings Burn Away
Perseph 1
Powderburn

Sad Gorilla was the first act of the night and I must say that their style is not one that we would generally cover. If I had to label their style I would say that it was an eclectic mix of Pop, Rock, Blues, and Soul. I am not sure that mixing all four is a good thing, but they definitely had their own vibe and crowd following. Interestingly enough, one of the band members also performed during Perseph 1's act later in the evening. If I were to offer anything of use to the band it would be that they should find a definitive style and try to stick with that one style. Sometimes when you mix too many styles you get an output that is often out of sync with a strong performance and that is the feeling I left with.

Wings Burn Away was the next act we observed and I was a bit more impressed with this Metal band. The song that we were able to check out was "Shipwrecked". The lead singer immediately got the crowd involved with the familiar "I can't hear you" refrain and showed great showmanship, playing with one finger on his keytar. The electric guitarist was definitely into his set, taking off his shirt midway through, although that probably played better with the ladies than it did with me. Although their set was short, they definitely were a great opening act for LSPS who would play later in the evening.

Perseph 1 was the next act that we were able to check out and she came right out ripping non-strained hip hop jewels to the audience. The thing that impresses me most about Perseph 1 is how quiet she is off the set and how she goes straight at the crowd the next minute. The biggest drawback I can see for Perseph is that her version of experimental hip hop may be over the crowd's head that she is playing to. Houston is known for our slow southern music, Screwed and Chopped of course. Perseph has an incredible range with her style and would probably be a platinum selling artist if she could get to the West or East coast. The live drums that she enlivened her set with along with the band member from Sad Gorilla playing on the vocoder/voice box, made for a show reminiscent of something you would see on VH1 or MTV. The song "Heavenly Life" was a memorable opening performance and the rest of her show did not disappoint.

The final act we saw that night was the Austin based Metal act, Powderburn. Immediately from watching these guys and judging by their Jagermeister sponsorship, you could sense that they are an act on the verge of being a mainstream rock act. First I want to say that I love the local Houston rock scene, and I definitely think we have a scene. I say that as if I am holding a loaded grenade, because as much as I think we are ready to blow up nationally, I think Austin is just that one step ahead of where we are. That is not to say that we lack talent, but I think the live music scene in Austin allows bands such as Powderburn a place to hone their craft. The song that was probably my favorite was "Echoed In Red'. The guitar riffs and incessant pounding of the drums was definitely a great jump off for that set. I loved how the lead singer threw koozies into the crowd. Giving away free gifts to your crowd can never hurt guys!

All things being equal, I would love to see more mixing of crowds like this. There is no reason in heck that Hip Hop and Rock can't coexist, ya hear!

RateYourMusic.Com gives "Echoed In Red' 4 out of 5 stars!

2007-02-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

Echoed in Red is a strong and compact EP with 6 energetic power metal tracks. Powder Burn gets you started with the title track "Echoed in Red", it contains an enormous catchy drive. All of the songs are quite lyrics orientated and some of them do remind me of Linkin Park, when it comes to the explosive energy. There are even some moments on Echoed in Red that make the 80s hardrock come alive for a short while.

The guitar playing is overall quite indestructible , but it has it's lush moments also. These lush moments make Echoed in Red a well balanced album for those who like to hear instruments being "tortured" on one hand and on the other hand also like to hear exceptionally refreshing sounds from the guitars and percussion.

All the songs are written before there were lyrics, except the song "Oceans" where the lyrics came first. The intro of "Oceans" is kind of a short break, what seems to be a resting point on the cd, but in fact it's a prelude to another outrageous outburst, I think it has something to do with the story behind the lyrics. Well just watch the DVD and you'll know what I mean ;-)

Though there are no keyboards credited on Echoed in Red there is a marvelous intro on "Here and After" something that asks for more.....

:-)

Powderburn featured at SafeConcerts.com

2007-02-27T19:43:00.000-08:00

Powderburn featured at SafeConcerts.com

The band has been featured this month at the UK based website www.safeconcerts.com

Check out the article here:
http://www.safeconcerts.com/bands/powderburn.asp

2/2007 - Band Interview - Insite Magazine

2007-02-07T22:35:00.000-08:00

Powderburn
Explodes Into 2007 with Echoed In Red

Written by Sean Claes

In 1998, Austin’s Powderburn was formed
when guitarist Josh Klayman and
vocalist/guitarist Ken Lockman met and
decided to bring their signature heavy metal
sound to the masses. A little over eight
years later, in 2007, Powderburn is hot off
the January release of their third release,
Echoed In Red.

Along the way they have had some major
achievements, playing alongside such metal
masters as Slayer, The Misfits, Sepultura,
and Anthrax. They’ve also played Austin’s
South By Southwest for the past three years
running. In addition, the guys have been
awarded the title of best metal band in
Austin for three of the last four years (The
Edge Magazine Awards), and hundreds of fans
turn out for their shows and sing the lyrics
word-for-word.

The road to today has not been without
it’s bumps. They’ve had to contend with a
couple of line-up changes, including losing
their original lead vocalist. The current
line up has become solid with bassist Greg
Enkler and drummer Patrick Swift. The band
took some time between beers and
Jagermeister shots to talk with INsite
Managing Editor Sean Claes about the band
and the new release, Echoed In Red, a
combination CD and DVD.

Sean Claes: How did Powderburn form?

Ken Lockman: The band started in
1999 with Josh and a bunch of random dudes.
I originally joined it as a side project,
Greg was forced to audition by his roommate,
and we most recently rescued Pat from his
crap band in NYC. Here we are years later,
and I couldn't be happier with this
accidental forming of Powderburn.

Claes: How many shows has Powderburn
played?

Lockman: We started off playing at
what is now a tiny gay bar in Austin and got
paid $11 and 6 lone stars. Since then we've
played all over TX and in various states in
the country... so that's… carry the 2…
account for Jager shots... 4834.5 shows.

Patrick Swift: Yeah, the .5 is
from that midget biker rally we played. I
don't remember much.

Claes: What does the title of your new
EP/DVD Echoed In Red mean?

Lockman: Without saying too much,
the phrase came up in a conversation at the
practice room, and we decided it made a good
title for a song.

Swift: Yeah, we gave it a meaning,
and so should you. We don't like to effect
people's interpretations of our songs too
much.

Claes: How did a release/listening
party at The Yellow Rose materialize?

Swift: From my love/hate
relationship with strippers. I love them,
and then they hate me six months later.

Lockman: We play rock music.
Strippers like rock music. Guys like rock
music. Guys also like boobs. Do the math.

Greg Enkler: If you could have a
CD-listening party somewhere, where would
YOU go?

Claes: Your last CD, Powderburn, was
released in 2003. Why did we wait 3 years
before a new CD?

Swift: Gross incompetence.

Enkler: Most of it had to do with
getting Pat into the band from New York and
up to speed with the stuff.

Lockman: Every band writes songs,
records them, and then 6 months later has
better songs. We took the time to write 30
songs and pick the best 6.

Claes: Who would be the ultimate band
line-up of a Powderburn Tour?

Lockman: Dope, because they're fun
guys, Metallica, because they have a few
fans, and Justin Timberlake.

Enkler: The original lineup of
Guns 'N' Roses. Motley Crue . . . you want
fun?

Swift: Ken stole my Justin
Timberlake idea, so I'm going to go with
Iron Maiden, The Cure, and Metallica,
because there is nothing funnier than 40
year old people in leather pants. I do like
all those bands, though.

Claes: Who are your favorite
local/area bands to play with?

Lockman: Anyone who doesn't take
themselves too seriously . . . and doesn't
suck.

Enkler: Mevyn, Shrapnel,
Quartershackle, that's all I can remember
right now.

Swift: I don't like playing with
bands so much as I like drinking with them
in the green room and making fun of the band
who's on at the moment. It's really an art
form . . .someone should make a documentary.

Claes: Do you have a day job? What is
it?

Enkler: Yes. My day job is
ROCKING.

Lockman: I put in long hours at
Bodog.com.

Swift: I play a taut, pre-teen
Swedish boy on Young and the Restless.

Lockman: Josh turns wrenches on
East Seventh Street.

Claes: What are some of the previous
bands you've been a member of?

Swift: Hey Greg - weren't you in
Armored Saint, or Sacred Reich, or one of
those poofy hair bands?

Enkler: Ohh . . it was something
between Sacred Reich and Fates Warning… It
was Sacred Oath! I was nineteen and playing
with a bunch of forty-year old dudes.

Swift: And I was in a crap band in
NYC.

Claes: Give us a tour story...

Lockman: I won't say which one of
us it was, but things were getting pretty
hot and heavy on MySpace one day, and this
young lady made large promises about an
upcoming show. To our surprise, when she
arrived, she still wanted to fulfill those
promises, never mind the seventh-month
pregnancy. Go METH!

Swift: We're in Houston, at Jake's
Bar. We're good friends with the bar staff,
and one of the bartenders heard that I'd
started wearing underwear after a ten-year
hiatus. So, in the spirit of good
friendship, she gave me the wedgie from
hell, pulling me off my barstool completely.

Not to be outdone, when I recovered from
the trauma to my groin, I got up and reached
into her pants with both hands, and pulled
her thong completely out of her pants. It
hangs in the van to this day to celebrate my
conquest.

Enkler: Awhile back, we were
playing at a strip club. And to not
incriminate the guys, I won't name names…
but there were at least two members of the
band working hard on some of the girls in
the club. So hard, in fact, that they loaded
out gear faster at this show than at any
other in history, in order to get back to
the hotel in time to make something happen.

When all was said and done, when we were
done packing up, their moms had called them
to come home and take care of their
children. And the guys in the band drank
themselves unconscious.

Klayman: I once peed next to Adam
Dutkiewicz from Killswitch Engage.

Claes: What's your favorite dirty
joke?

Swift: This band is my favorite
dirty joke.

Lockman: What's the best thing
about twenty eight year olds? There's TWENTY
of them!

Enkler: Why do you put a baby in a
blender feet first? So you can see its
expression!

Lockman: That's not dirty though…

Swift: Yeah, that's just fuckin
gross.

Enkler: Blow me.

Find out more about Powderburn at their
site – powderburn.net.

Rockeyez.com CD review

2005-04-01T23:20:00.000-08:00

You might think Texas is for rodeos and cowboys, well this Austin, Texas band Powderburn, will change your mind. The thrash metal rockers can ride high on their new demo release. Actually, two of the songs are from a previous released demo in 2003 with one new track.

Powderburn released their first demo back in 1999 and have not looked back since. They have won countless awards from the Austin Chronicle Music Poll including “Best Metal Band” since their debut in 1999. “Hoi Polloi” is track-two, that has the vibe of a harden Anthrax with a dark down chords theme. In the middle of the song, the band starts to get melodic and slow down the pace a bit but it picks up again near the end. Track-three has lots of hardcore bass with growls and reverb. Both of these songs are from their 2003 demo.

Now let’s get to their new 2005 track called “Here and After.” I have to tell you if this is the direction the band is headed they can become a major force in the music industry. The other two songs from 2003 were good but nothing compared to their new song. This song is explosive with power chords sounding like a Wrath of Killenstein track called “Igniisis Dance.” I really like the background vocals that make this song even more special. The highlight on “Here and After” are definitely the pounding bass riffs adding to this totally kick-ass track.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Band Lineup:
Josh Klayman - Guitar/vocals
Ken Lockman - Guitar/vocals
Greg Enkler - Bass/vocals
Patrick Swift - Drums

Track Listing:
Here and After
Hoi Polloi
Revulsion

ORIGINAL LINK: http://www.rockeyez.com/reviews/demo/powderburn/rev-powderburn.html