I don’t know how, but this week is flying by despite have a long weekend in front of us. So it’s about that time to start stocking up the playlist for Friday, and I’m stoked to bring this one to your attention today. Portland post-doom metal project Burial Clouds are dropping their brilliant new full-length album, Burn Holy, at the end of the week. It’s heavy and expansive in a way that will pull us all in, and as solid as 2023’s Last Days Of A Dying World was, this is still an undeniable step up. Flynn (bass) stepped in to introduce this album and this project a little. Take the jump, hit play, and give this latest Profile feature a read.

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How and when did you first get into playing music, or metal more specifically, and how did your band get its start? Any pushback from family/those close to you?

All of us started playing or performing when we were younger. Metal, Punk, Electronic etc. We all have our foundations in the darker realms of music. As far as how Burial Clouds got its start, Matt Mitchell (guitar) had a demo up online, looking for band mates. I emailed him immediately after listening to it “Like i need to be playing with this dude!”. Our families, friends, and relationships have been very supportive of what we do.

How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?

Heavy, Dark, Soulful and at times downright chaotic!

Is there anything about your upcoming album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

During the filming of the “Be Not Afraid” video, Matt (guitar) cut his foot open in the ocean, Tim Iserman (drums) and Marina Lavelle (vocals) had issues getting the kite to stay up in the air! It was a lot of work but definitely a labor of love. Literal blood, sweat and tears went into this!

Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?

When we played the UK a few years ago our merch got held up at customs and we ended up getting a traffic ticket via a traffic cam. The only thing we could do was laugh. It was our first time there. Great learning experience though.

What do you see as some of the great things happening in and around the metal scene (yours or just in general) and what are some of the worst things happening right now?

So much great music. Always. It’s unlimited and so far reaching. The collective mentality seems to be proactive towards the greater good too. Which leads to the next part is that everyone is so proactive against AI being involved with music because everyone knows that expression and the ability to express emotion is a human function. AI can’t do that fundamentally. We’ll be damned if we let it replace our hands and voices too!

Most folks have passions for a cause or causes that are close to them. What, if any, are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you / your band and how do you insert those issues into your music?

The fog of our reality. There’s everything from political strife, famine to the slaughter of an entire people. Across the globe. Yet no clear end in sight. All of it ends up in our music one way or another. Whether lyrics or just the drive behind a riff.

Do you have day jobs or hobbies you want to share?

Everything from cooking and nursing to taxi driving and working with herbal medicine. The biggest hobby I know that we all share is the outdoors. The northwest has so much green and vastness to its ecosystem. It’s hard to want to stay home.

What advice do you have for music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?

Don’t chew people up so badly! I’m joking but seriously, don’t be afraid to touch on more lesser known and obscure artists. It’s harder at that level and any amount of exposure you do get you want to have as much as possible. From as many sources as possible.

Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?

More shows and touring, Shoot for some festivals, Build a bigger audience.

When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently?

“Rosin” – Al Cisneros vs The Bug, “Vespertine” – Björk, “Nebraska” – Bruce Springstein, “Shapes Unravel” – Abronia

What is the near future outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?

We’re pretty optimistic about our future and the release of “Burn Holy”. The new album is solid with an even more solid line up behind it. We’ll be playing the “Burn Holy” release shows later this month in Oregon and Washington as well as a few more shows lined up after the initial release.

Summarize your band in one word.

Vivid.

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Many thanks to Flynn and Burial Clouds for the time!

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Burn Holy is out on May 22nd. For more information on Burial Clouds, head over to Instagram.