Psychedelia virtuosos REZN, who are known for adding prog, shoegaze, and sonic ethereals to their heavy sound, are here with their fifth album and last piece in a two-part series, Burden. Recorded alongside their 2023 release, this album offers a darker and denser experience acting as the black swan to their white swan, Solace. While Solace drew upon uplifting themes and emotions accompanied by dreamy melodies, Burden centers on themes of delirium, claustrophobia, and misery while focusing on riffs and heavier, more demanding sounds over atmosphere. The two are undeniably different, yet they overlap in sophisticated compositions, unique instrumentation, and passionate performances.

Opening with a simple yet ominous melody before breaking open with drums and siren-like tones, Burden immediately takes on a dark yet groovy tone. The following track, “Instinct,” is an immediate favorite with cascading riffs, echoing vocals and synths, and builds on the haunting feelings with repeating lyrics of “hanging onto the razor’s edge.” An instrumental interlude comes next with just over a minute of eerie synth atmospherics, and an approaching drumline that consumes closing out the track and leading into the next.

Slow and surreal “Soft Prey” brings a combination of elements (including saxophone) creating a dreamlike quality. Just when listeners think that things are slowing and calming down bringing the album to a close, in comes “Chasm.” This was the first single released from the album and one that leaves a mark and leaves listeners wanting more. An interesting choice to finish out Burden, it is the heaviest track on the album and brings the energy right back up. It also features a killer guitar solo from Mike Sullivan (Russian Circles). Pulling more from doom influence, “Chasm” hits us with everything REZN has to offer without holding back and it is powerful. The stark contrast between the two final tracks must be intentional and adds to the push and pull and themes of Burden.  

Unique instrumentation consisting of synths, sax, lap steel, flute, piano, and rainstick are heard in both albums but utilized quite differently. While the instrumentation was previously used to create a lighter and more ethereal sound, here it is used to emphasize and heighten emotion, adding dramatics. Similarly, the album art of both were created by artist Adam Burke showing mountainous landscapes with one illuminated by rays of light and the other illuminated by flames. Every choice is intentional and clever, indicating that these albums are two parts of a whole while being dynamic and strong enough to also stand solo, appreciated for their own uniqueness.

Burden is an alluring and impressive album that perfectly compliments and closes out REZN’s two-part project. I stated in my review of Solace that I felt it was their best work yet and now I see that these two albums together are REZN’s best without being able to rank one higher than the other. I love the choice to release them separately rather than one extended album, which given the nature of the two would have been too much of an emotional journey and the details would get lost in the length. Hearing Burden over a year after Solace and then revisiting the latter helped me appreciate the two albums as a combined project, but also recognize the uniqueness of each and the intricacies woven in. REZN is currently on tour with Pallbearer and I cannot wait to see them in Chicago. I am ready to feel all the feelings and may need someone to check in on me after the show.

-Angela

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Burden is available June 14 via Sargent House. For more information on REZN visit their Facebook page.