LiVES

With its menacing, bass-driven intro, LiVES’ 'Burn' wastes little time getting under the skin as vocalist Peter Chisholm launches into his invective.

Chisholm’s delivery draws heavily on Hip-Hop cadence, his clipped phrasing, sharp consonants and rapid-fire syncopation locked tightly to the groove of bass and drums. There are shades of Rage Against The Machine’s Zack de la Rocha in the intensity and rhythmic attack, although LiVES put their own stamp on it.

As the repeating guitar riff steadily builds the tension, the lyrics take aim at the international arms trade and those who profit from it. The simmering verses eventually erupt into the incendiary chorus of “Burn, burn, burn, burn, burn”, with Chisholm suddenly switching gears and delivering the refrain in a soaring falsetto.

'Burn' may be a fiery indictment of its subject matter, but musically it is equally adept at leaving its mark. This is a song that definitely singes itself onto the listener’s brain.

Ivan De Mello