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Birth — Born
(Bandcamp Bad Omen 027, 2022, CD / LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2022-10-15

Born Cover art

Just like the mythical fiery phoenix reborn from its ashes, the San Diego band Birth is reborn from its ashes of Astra as a prog rock powerhouse. Astra released two albums during its life from 2001 to 2013, and in 2017 original members Brian Ellis (guitar, piano, and percussion) and Conor Riley (vocals, synths, piano, organ, and acoustic guitar) enlisted Trevor Mast (bass) and Paul Marrone (drums) to form Birth. They honed their sound and released their debut album Born on July 15, 2022 in multiple formats and multiple countries. Born is a strong contender for the best album of 2022. Birth has successfully emulated the super groups of the 70s with heavy organ, vibrant themes, and complex arrangements evoking comparisons to Atomic Rooster, Vincent Crane, and Nicholas Greenwood. They’ve also released a video for the album closer “Long Way Down,” with 70s-styled video effects and the band overlaid by erupting volcanoes, star fields, and a blazing sun. “Long Way Down” is a tightly arranged song combining a Black Sabbath vibe with quiet guitar interludes. All six of the tracks, three instrumentals and three songs, are outstanding compositions featuring interplaying and interweaving heavy organ and electric guitar melodies. Born is a solid album from the opening note to its closing chords, and a welcome sound the likes of which we have not heard in a long time. Birth is much more than a retro band, they’ve learned from the masters and have created a contemporary sound that pays homage to the past. In short, these guys are great!

Filed under: New releases, 2022 releases

Related artist(s): Astra, Birth

More info
http://birthprog.bandcamp.com/album/born

 

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