 |
| photo by Kevin Vonespar |
NYC-based post-punk duo Black Rose Burning has released their fourth studio album 'The Fear Machine', which sees the band return to their roots with a darker, more synth-driven sound reminiscent of their debut album 'The Year of the Scorpion'.
Made up of George Grant (bass, vocals, guitars, synth programming) and Luis Infantas (drums, percussion, synth triggering), Black Rose Burning is known for their dark, melodic sound that blends synth-driven soundscapes with powerful guitars and vocals. They have released three full-length albums and are gearing up for their fourth, The Fear Machine.
Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by George Grant at PVRCo in Putnam Valley, New York, 'The Fear Machine' is a concept album, inspired by a sci-fi idea Grant has had since childhood, concerning a world kept in a constant state of fear in order to power a machine that feeds on human anxiety, grief and agitation. This theme is reflected in the album’s darker lyrical content, which is a direct commentary on the current state of the world.
"We tried to get back to the basics of the sound we make as Black Rose Burning... The Fear Machine comes back to balancing the interplay between keys and guitars, both working in tandem with quite a bit more subtlety concerning the guitars… I think we managed to have the same melodic sensibility, and we definitely brought the hooks," says George Grant.
"The songs on this record are a bit darker and thematically a bit more centered on what the world is going through at the moment - especially the United States. Even though our ongoing motto is “Love Won, Love Lost and Outer Space”, we felt it was important to take a stand musically for our community and people who are being affected in it."
Musically, this album marks a shift from the more guitar-forward sound of their latest 'Ad Astra' album, its powerful, melodic soundscape based on the subtle interplay between intricate guitar work and synth programming. The unique album artwork was inspired by ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures, a shared interest between Grant and Peruvian-born drummer Luis Infantas.
"We both have a fascination with ancient Maya and Aztec culture as it pertains to their relationship with the stars and allusion to space travel (one of our main and ongoing themes). Were they aware of space travelers? Were they originally travelers themselves? Did they know the creators of The Fear Machine?" asks George Grant.
'The Fear Machine' is out now, available from online music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. This album will generate a series of forthcoming music videos, as well as extensive touring in 2026, including long-awaited European dates.
CREDITS
George Grant - Bass, Vocals, Guitars and Synth Programming
Luis Infantas - Drums, Percussion and Synth triggering
Produced, engineered, mixed & mastered by George Grant at PVRCo (Putnam Valley, NY)
Album cover & artwork by Antonella Di Mattei / Eshmoon DM
Artist photos by Kevin Vonespar
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
TRACK LIST
01 The Herald Of The Change (4:08)
02 Winter Fields (4:52)
03 Odysseus (4:56)
04 Into The Black (4:32)
05 The Fear Machine (4:24)
06 Retro (3:53)
07 When The Master Calls (4:37)
08 Sadness (4:08)
09 Roses In The Dark (5:04)
10 Beautiful Disaster (4:20)
11 Before The Wall (5:03)
