“You can’t feel the separation.“
When Aussie unit Colourburn popped up in September with their debut single, “Star“, they blended a well-known sound that has been heard from the likes of Eat Your Heart Out in the wrappings of a style similar to that of Static Dress. And with both acts seemingly forming themselves on the better days of Tonight Alive and My Chemical Romance, a derivation of that becomes a challenge to conjure excitement for.
The aforementioned single, and opening track to Compromise In Colour, does at least have something about it; the vocal hook of “Make me, make me into your star” has a level of remembrance to it and the melancholic hum on the guitars has a slight emotiveness that sits nicely on the ear. It is on “Sinkhole” and “Blue Flame” where Colourburn begin to follow well-trodden roads that a little too much, especially on the latter, with the soaring nature on the chorus too akin to something off Eat Your Heart Out‘s material, such as “Carousel” and “Conscience“.
There is a grunginess found in Colourburn’s offering that isn’t perhaps found in its counterparts, and that does allow it to sit in a ever-close, but separate vein. This is explored better in “Folded Letter“, with neat guitar work coming together with Brigg‘s vocals to create something punchier and darker. “Feel Me” closes out the EP on a neat and pleasant note, albeit lacking the grandiosity which would cause any great clamour.
Colourburn have looked to put themselves into the foray in a swift fashion, which is commendable given many bands over the recent years have dipped their toes in single by single. Although Compromise In Colour treads too much ground that has been covered before, there is a tidy enough EP here that is well-packaged. With a bit more refinement and their own evolution on the sound, they could certainly make waves in the future.
6/10
Compromise In Colour is out November 24th via self-release, and can be pre-ordered here.