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BURNING RAIN
Epic Obsession

Frontiers (2013)
Rating: 8/10

It’s been well over a decade since the last Burning Rain release. Fans had every reason to expect that 2001’s Pleasure To Burn was the last we would hear of this metal supergroup, especially considering how guitarist Doug Aldrich went on to become a member of Whitesnake in 2002.

Meanwhile, bassist Sean McNabb has been active with XYZ, Great White and most recently Dokken, and drummer Matt Starr provides beats for Ace Frehley and Bang Tango, among others. Vocalist Keith St. John has spent the last several years fronting the Montrose band, all the way up until guitarist and namesake Ronnie’s suicide in 2012. With members all over the world of rock and metal, it’s a pleasure to hear them come together to record Epic Obsession.

Burning Rain has a sound that is pure classic metal; somewhere between Whitesnake and XYZ with a hint of Led Zeppelin is Burning Rain’s turf. Keith St. John sounds like a less throaty David Coverdale (Whitesnake), or a deeper Terry Ilouis (XYZ / Great White). His delivery is strong, with phrasing that owes more than a little to Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin).

A perfect example of this is ‘Heaven Gets Me By’ which appears twice on Epic Obsession, a full band version and an acoustic guitar and vocal only version which closes the album. St. John’s performance on this ballad evokes Zeppelin at their best. It’s hard to not notice the Led Zeppelin influence, especially when the band covers ‘Kashmir’ nearly note for note, giving the song a heavy, updated feel.

There is more to Burning Rain than simply Led Zeppelin references. Doug Aldrich is a seasoned guitarist who has been putting out albums since 1986, and is truly a guitar hero. No more proof is needed than the flurry of furious notes that grace the first few seconds of opening track ‘Sweet Little Baby Thing’. This rocker in the Whitesnake vein sets a driving pace, and is full of enough mach speed guitar work to leave any metalhead drooling for more. The rhythm team of McNabb and Starr play in perfect sync, creating a firm foundation for Aldrich’s searing solos.

While Epic Obsession could easily turn into a guitarist’s playground, Aldrich sounds just as concerned about creating grooves as ripping leads. ‘The Cure’ and ‘Pray Out Loud’ are both based on strong rhythm guitar riffs that provide metal muscle. Aldrich is obviously a master of his craft, recognising the importance of both structure and flash.

Over the course of this album Burning Rain present songs that would have astounded metal fans in the pre-grunge years of the early 90s. Given current production techniques, a modern sound emerges filled with classic metal riffs. From blues to rock to power ballads (of which ‘Made For Your Heart’ is one of the best I’ve heard in many years), Epic Obsession has everything a fan could desire. Burning Rain takes me back to a time when I blasted Whitesnake on a daily basis, building upon traditional formulas to bring quality rock that’s familiar without sounding dated.

Epic Obsession is a jewel among the myriad 80s / 90s metal throwback bands rearing their heads lately. This one is worth a listen.

Jim McDonald

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