SINGLE REVIEW: In Which it Burns - Stand / To Those Who Wish Our End / Hatred in Disguise

A triple whammy from Haverfordwest’s premier thrashers In Which It Burns has dropped recently, the teasers from third album Terra Nullius. When main man Stretch got in touch to let me know, then it was a no-brainer to get onto the streaming services and check them out. For those who don’t know IWIB, these boys are some of the hardest working dudes around. Hamstrung by geography, they’ve been playing for the best part of a decade, releasing two albums, competing in various competitions including Metal to the Masses where they regularly feature as finalists, as well as travelling across the UK to deliver their groove metal. Three singles in a curled-up fist, and the first of these is the more melodic. Stand retains all the savagery that we’ve come to expect from IWIB, razor sharp guitar work, bruising drumming, and Stretch’s snarling vocals. Lyrically, it’s about as brutal as they come, with plenty of expletives ensuring that the band won’t be played on mainstream radio … ever! But there lurks some cleans on the chorus, and that provides the melody that admittedly lurks underneath. A fiery song of defiance, the production is solid, certainly better than some of their previous offerings, and the groove hits hard. Well worth a listen.

In which It Burns at Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff. Photo: Hutchie224

IWIB aren’t going to bring you a love song anytime soon, and To Those Who Wish Our End certainly won’t be one to play at the end of a wedding. Although maybe it would clear out those hanging on for My Way! Once more the band’s trademark aggression is up front and centre, visceral vocals and a chugging riff explode into your face, with frantic drumming that anchors the song. I’ll admit that Stretch’s vocals are still a bit of a marmite mix for me, sometimes they work particularly well, but there’s a little bit of overload here which I struggled with until a burst of clean singing which breaks into a fine section of slower, thoughtful melody, before the big guns kick back in to drive the song home. A bonus in this review is the latest single, Hatred in Disguise, which arrived very recently. It’s got a familiar IWIB flavour, with some excellent lead work from long-time member Steve Flynn leading into the body of the song. Once again, the vocals are a little challenging, but underneath there’s a mighty track, with a decision to slow things down making it one of the heaviest numbers that IWIB have written. A distinct change of style works well, with the tempo allowing room for the song to breathe. Three singles to whet the appetite then, and with the prospect of the new album close by, it’s well worth keeping a watch on this four-piece.

In which It Burns at Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff. Photo: Hutchie224

Review by Hutch

Find out more at In Which It Burns