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Feedback and crashing symbols cymbals began, like the opening lights at a race the main event was about to begin. Instead of the edge of the seat this crowd was running in a circle getting ready for the scream of the vocals and the thunder of the drums. The singer took the microphone to get the crowd even more ready. He yelled, “Think about the person you hate the most. Think about the person who has stabbed you in the back, that showed you no mercy”.
At this point the crowd was ready to smash into each other, a few had already began swinging their arms to get ready to dance in the fury of rage. Some people even had begun screaming in the thought of the person they hated most. Then just as the feedback and symbols came to a brief halt everyone expected the rage of the singer to begin this anti-Oprah moment.
Suddenly the singer yelled, “Now forgive that person”.
They went straight into the song, but no one danced, no arms flailed, and no one yelled along with the chorus. No one knew what to do; this night of rage outlet was turning into something all together different. There is no other way to describe the career of Burn It Down than something all together different.
Burn It Down had a melding of sounds; they couldn’t be pinned down to one sub element of hardcore. The vocals were gritty and angry, and sometime the guitars had some chuggy riffs, but you couldn’t just say they were generic hardcore. The bass and drums worked together much like how Coalesce did - as a systematic punch in the face. Sometimes the songs were built around a melody, other times it was just pure brutality using off time rhythms. Somehow it always seemed that the band was about the honesty of life rather than fitting into the scene codes of sound.
They did some pretty big touring over the years. They toured with some christian and non-christan based bands. Neither crowd could fully embrace Burn It Down. They ended in that limbo place of being too spiritually minded for the hardcore kids and too accepting of all faiths to get honor in the christian crowds. The band ended with a record that I can only describe as troubled by its desire to fit in. That honesty was not there as much as it previously had been; trying to survive will always comprise that.
Burn It Down did a one-show reunion in 2005, as is fitting of our times, to then quit once again. I’ve heard that members of the band still play in numerous bands around the country. The singer, Ryan Downey, is now known as a contributor for Alternative Press, MTV News and MSNBC TV. He also runs his own management company called Superhero. And before anyone gives him the business over the stage persona he also is known to sing in a local LA Misfits cover band. I’m sure if Burn It Down was new band today they would make more waves then they did, but as always in hindsight everything was ahead of that current age.
Listen here: Burn It Down on iTunes
Ryan Downey is also Zao’s manager and long-time friend; he shot the Lesser Lights of Heaven. This is awesome. I never knew he did that.
The scene at the beginning is a really powerful image.
I agree. Enjoyed reading this.
Hey thanks for the throwback! I was able to see these guys twice, and I really enjoyed it. Good ol Bob Fouts, who’s doing some really awesome music in Indy right now. Good article
crashing symbols? I wonder if they sound any better than my cymbals. I’ll have to try them out.
Wow. I saw these guys several times & their split with Racetraiter is priceless to me still. I have all their cds and one shirt that I still wear.
Burn It Down still stands to be one of my favorite bands of all time. Even though they weren’t around an incredibly long time, their ideas, music, and lyrics were all incredible to me. This was a great article to find.
Never heard of this band before, but they seem alright.
Classic Trustkill, and oh the good old Uprising Record days…