Burning the Masses

by Eduardo Rivadavia
San Diego, CA's Burning the Masses are characterized by an especially violent brand of deathcore, streaked with instrumental complexity derived from math metal. Beginning with a demo in 2005, the group proceeded to develop their repertoire while building a small following on local stages, until they were ready to record their self-financed and -distributed mini-album, Volatile Existence in 2007. This quickly paved the way for a deal with Mediaskare Records, which repackaged and reissued that release, before sending bandmembers David Montenegro (vocals), Arde (guitar/vocals), Chris (guitar), Jake (bass), and Chason Westmorelan (drums), back into the studio to record a proper full-length. Released in 2008 under the evocative title of Mind Control, the album featured three re-recorded tracks among nine brand new tunes, but all of them sounded as oppressively brutal as ever.