'The Burning' is the debut album from Kansas City's own The Leo Project, and this album definitely has something to offer both hard rock and metal fans alike. With a sound that ranges from the likes of Sevendust and Pride and Glory (Zakk Wylde's first solo project) to Breaking Benjamin, with hints of metalcore thrown in here and there, it's quite surprising that this band hasn't been snatched up by a major label.
There are hooks galore on this album, and the guitar work is simply stellar. The album has a great acoustic intro entitled "The Incineration". . The melodies on this album
both musically, as well as vocally are simply amazing. And The songs are more than catchy enough to stay stuck in your head long after you've stopped spinning the album.Vocalist Tyler Lyon does a great job, with Sean Hammel doing some stellar background vocals, including some of the more aggressive vocals that add that much more to an already amazing debut album
"He Always Was" has a nice driving rhythm to it, with a real hard rock meets metalcore feel to it that isn't something you hear very often, if at all. There are some nice breakdowns throughout the track, with aggro vocals to match. The rhythm definitely brings to mind bands like Shadows Fall, and even It Dies Today and Bullet For My Valentine.
"Haunted Place" has a great haunting melody, which was probably part of the reason for the song being titled as such. The chorus, much like every other song on the album, is so catchy and easily remembered, it will have you humming along, (if not singing along) by the second verse. There is also a really nice albeit short lead right before the break.
"Knives" has more of an edge to it guitar-wise, at least during the intro and choruses.
This is where the comparisons to more recent Sevendust show up, especially with the vocals sounding alot like Lajon. The aggressive vocals that close out the song are great also.
The album's title track "The Burning" has some of the best driving guitar parts on the album, period! It's got more of a Killswitch Engage feel to it, at least musically. While they may not have their overdrive turned up to 11 like most heavier bands, it stands out more, simply due to the fact that The Leo Project isn't aggressive all the way through the album, or any one song for that matter. So when they do bring in the screams and add some heavy guitars to the mix, it tends to stand out that much more.
