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Burning the Process
2001 studio album by Pressure 4-5 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Burning the Process is the debut studio album by American rock band Pressure 4-5, released on October 2, 2001, by DreamWorks Records. It features 11 tracks, three of which ("These Hands," "Beat the World," and "Even Worse") were featured on a prior three-song sampler release and were re-recorded for this album. This would prove to be Pressure 4-5's first and only major label album, as the group disbanded in 2003.
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Musical style
Burning the Process showcases a sound akin to contemporary alternative metal as well as groups popular in the 1990s. In addition to a fierce scream, vocalist Adam Rich utilizes his voice comparably to Page Hamilton of Helmet. And while Rich insisted that their style falls under "heavy rock" rather than metal, and that the band "wanted to get as far away from the rap-rock scene as possible," tracks like "Even Worse" bear some resemblance to rap metal. In a 2002 interview, Rich said "It is sort of metal though we don't really describe ourselves as metal. I think that we are a bit more hardcore than metal really, like New York style hardcore that is. We have a lot of people say that they hear a lot of things like Helmet and Quicksand."[3]
Much of the album's lyrics deal with overcoming problems such as grieving and, particularly in the song "Even Worse," irrationality of religion.[4] Frontman Adam Rich elaborated, "As individuals, we're constantly learning and trying to figure things out - it's an ongoing process. . . It's what life is about, and we named this record Burning The Process in honor of that."
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Touring and promotion
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Pressure 4-5 acquired a spot on the Second Stage of Ozzfest 2001. Through the remainder of the year, they joined an MTV-sponsored club tour with groups like Alien Ant Farm and Hoobastank. The band also performed their own fourteen-date tour beginning March 31, 2002 before joining Lit on April 18.[5] Next would be the MTV2 Presents Tour with DreamWorks labelmates Apex Theory and British band Lostprophets, where they previewed new material.[6]
"Beat the World," a song which deals with the sudden death of Adam Rich's best friend,[7] would be the band's lead single off Burning the Process. Its music video, directed by Marc Webb, performed well on modern rock mainstays such as MTV2, and the song found considerable radio play from late summer to winter of 2001. "Beat the World" appeared on the WWF Tough Enough soundtrack, which was released by DreamWorks Records on September 18, 2001.
In spring 2002, the group introduced their second single and video, "Melt Me Down." Rich explained the song as "[incorporating] the universal theme of having the freedom to express yourself however you want."[citation needed] In November 2003, the album's rights transferred to Universal Music Group, as that month UMG reached a $100 million dollar agreement to acquire DreamWorks Records from DreamWorks SKG (the same company which owned DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation).[8] Pressure 4-5 had already broken up five months prior to this happening.
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Critical reception
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Burning the Process was largely well received. AllMusic's Bradley Torreano noted the album's resurrection of mid '90s alternative metal and particularly obvious Helmet influence. He praised Rich's vocal abilities and the track "Stares" while noting "Even Worse" as one of "the only low points of an otherwise impressive debut." Torreano regarded the Burning the Process as demonstrating "a band with a lot of promise and ambition" and wide appeal.
Jessica Jardine of Daily Nexus also praised vocalist Adam Rich in her October 2001 review, stating he had "perfected the art of the catchy hook."[10] However, she goes on to say "Moments exist when one longs for the band to let out its inner Korn and pop some eardrums. There are flashes in tracks like 'Stares' where one relishes hearing Rich tear apart his precious vocal chords as the band flies through charging guitar riffs."[10]
DynamicRock gave Burning the Process 8.5 out of 10, labelling it "one of the year's most riveting and unforgettable releases". They compared the album's sound to Onesidezero, Cold, Helmet, and Quicksand, remarking, "Far removed from the aggro-driven, grunge-metal of Antechnology, Pressure 4-5's major-label debut, Burning the Process, is an 11-track odyssey of passion, beauty, and artistic creativity. Combining thoughtfully crafted harmonics with emotionally-driven vocals, Pressure 4-5 has vastly improved as musicians."[1] Gary Graff of Revolver considered it "a powerful debut, certainly a meaty dish that's served with a minimum of garnish-free of raps, loops, and samples."[citation needed] Metal Edge writer Mike Magnuson commended the lyrical purpose behind the album's tracks.[citation needed] Burning the Process also gained approval from smaller magazines including HITS and Mean Street who commended its "sense of melodic dynamics."[citation needed]
Track listing
All music by Pressure 4-5.
Personnel
Pressure 4-5
- Adam Rich – lead and backing vocals
- Joe Schmidt – rhythm guitar
- Mark Barry – lead guitar
- Lyle Mckeany – bass guitar
- Tom Schmidt – drums
Production
- Jay Baumgardner – producer, mixing
- Dan Certa – engineering
- Howard Karp – assistant engineering
- James Murray – assistant engineering
- Tom Baker – mastering
Additional musicians
- David Campbell – string arrangements, Viola
- Larry Corbett – cello
- Joel Derouin – violin
- Brooks Wackerman – percussion
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Charts
Album
Singles
References
External links
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