Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Beaten Back To Pure - The Burning South 2004 Devil Doll Records reviewed by: EC

Track Listing1. AmericanVermin 2. Smothered In Sundress 3. Hell Goes Thru Hanging Dog 4. One Shovel And A Place To Die 5. Where The Sewer Meets The Sea 6. Pillars Of Tomorrow, Piles Of Yesterday 7. Vertigo 8. Running Out Of Neck

I really have no clue what you call this. Today's metal is starting to blend so many things together that genre naming has pretty much been thrown out the window. Beaten Back To Pure are apparently making huge strides to get their brand of "hillbilly" rock and roll known world wide. Their new album, "The Burning South", marks the group's third effort to date, and first for new label Devil Doll Records. The band's last two records on Retribute have sold over 20,000 units, and have since become completely sold out. Beaten Back To Pure have made many top 10 album lists with their prior records, and have been seen on tour with the likes of Alabama Thundepussy.

So, what is Beaten Back To Pure? Your guess is as good as mine. "The Burning South" is my first spin of the group's material, and I am baffled and even a bit confused after playing this several times. I can't really describe what I am hearing. I honestly enjoy it, but really have no idea what I'm listening too. The vocals of frontman Boss Hogg remind me of bands like EyeHateGod, with constant deep, guttural howls and lyrics that are hard to understand even with the printed words in front of me. This is very raw, doomy stuff with a touch of southern rock thrown in that should appeal to fans of bands like Cathedral, The Obsessed, Clutch, and even deathy groups like Gorefest, Terra Firma, and Crack Up.

Tracks like "American Vermin" and "Running Out Of Neck" are good foot stompers, raging with a primal need to indulge in Sabbath grind, almost sounding like greaser rock at times. The band hail from Virginia, so they have a deep southern vibe running rampant through their songs. "Smothered In Sundress" comes at you with some twin guitar, and a bottom heavy, electric basement riff that reminds me of Down a bit. "Hell Goes Thru Hanging Dog" is probably my favorite track of the record, with huge leads throughout and chunky guitar that goes beyond the normal heavy downtuning. Other cuts like "Where The Sewer Meets The Sea" are very confusing to me, not really catching me with anything remotely interesting. For instance "Pillars Of Tomorrow, Piles Of Yesterday" goes absolutely nowhere, seeming like filler material on an already shortened album of eight songs. "Vertigo" is an instrumental, which I have no problem with, but again seems to be a slow spot on the disc.

This certainly isn't as processed as a band like Fireball Ministry, so it will catch you off balance at times with it's raw delivery. Nevertheless this is a good piece of sludge, with plenty of good, traditional doom that dates back to basic Sabbath. A great introduction for new fans such as myself, who really aren't familiar with these types of bands. I look for bigger and better things from Beaten Back To Pure in the future.


--EC 10.08.04