A truly unique showcase of rock and roll stirred by the desert horizons, ‘Watch Us Burn’ lets Yuma Sun shine in a warm, solar embrace.

It’s hard to believe the Bergen quintet harvest the melancholy and determination of a scorching clime far from their hometown. From the quirky opening notes of ‘St. Louise’, the Norwegian outfit’s third album of “doomsday rock” bursts with character, efficient noodling and pounding bass to complement the melodic charm of vocalist Jaran Hereid.

The thunderous presence of ‘Give Me Fever’ oozes stomping sass, a country-meets-doom hybrid to herald the appearance of Lucifer himself, after all, it’s not often Lucifer turns up to your rodeo party. Once again, Satan walks in for the lysergic ‘The Judas Tree’ and ‘Mary’s acoustic downturn appeals to yet more religious escapism – consider this bunch avid reporters on divine movements.

The lovestruck lament of ‘Josephine’ and the repetitive sass of ‘Violets to Stone’ flick through moods effortlessly, just as smoothly as the surreal distortion of ‘High Road’ trudges its way to the electric chair. A soundtrack to a forlorn pilgrimage, the punchy solos and powerful drum presence of ‘King of Light’ offset the sassy trudging of ‘War Has Begun’. This journey inevitably comes to its end, closing neatly on the surly, fitting swansong of the title track as heavy footsteps approach their presumably grim destination.

Unlike anything you’ve heard before, at least not while sober, you’ll never tell whether ‘Watch Us Burn’ is coming or going – and that’s the beauty of it.

4/5

’Watch Us Burn’ by Yuma Sun is out now on Membran.

Yuma Sun links: Website|Facebook

Words by Ali Cooper (@AliZombie_)