Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Burning River – Ignition (2023)

With the aim of reclaiming the glory of old-school rock and re-establishing it in the modern-day mainstream world, Burning River is potentially the saviour of rock and roll in the 21st century.  Hailing from the USA, Cleveland to be exact, Burning River is the combination of naturally talented musicians drawn together to create something truly special. Long-time friends Nicholas Lattanzio (bass) and Joseph Hozian (guitar) found Stanley Piecuch (drums) and Keith Altman (vocals) via local music forums and, as they say, the rest is history.

Influenced by artists like Rush, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Jimi Hendrix, Burning River is greatly influenced by iconic rockers. Yet, while a strong rock sound flows through their music, the influences of each individual run from melodic metal to alternative rock. Using their eclectic inspirational mix, Burning River releases their debut single ‘Ignition’.

Hard, heavy and powerful, ‘Ignition’ transcends genres melding all types of rock into one bright bold sonic package. As their first release, ‘Ignition’ introduces audiences to the heart of Burning River. Yes, artists can showcase versatility by releasing singles from metal to pop and folk; however, the band seems to cement itself into the rock scene from the get-go. The band explain that they “focused on straightforward guitar-driven rock and roll. This being our first release we wanted to emphasise the fundamental sound of our group.”

Just as hard-hitting and bold as the melody, Burning River shows musical prowess with its lyricism. When speaking about ‘Ignition’, the lads share that it “…can best be understood as a response to modern musical oversaturation. Digging into the weeds a bit, we believed classic rock had sort of taken a backseat in terms of its presence in mainstream musical culture…’Ignition’ is an attempt to reintroduce classic rock with a highly energetic lease on life…”

Energetic, enthusiastic and filled with an intensity to intoxicate listeners from the first second, Burning River blasts through with their debut single ‘Ignition’. My one concern is whether or not they can stand up to the awesomeness of ‘Ignition’ in future releases. Time will tell, but for now, I highly recommend this sensational band.


For more from Burning River, check out their official website, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator