Anchor and Burden - Extinction Level

01.Fractured Self (10:40)
02.Body Expansion (11:37)
03.Mutual Assured Destruction (9:02)
04.Nine Gates To Dominion (9:55)
05.Extinction Phase (18:25)
06.The Crust Of This Earth (6:54)

"Extinction Level" by Anchor and Burden is a bold and ambitious album that pushes the boundaries of progressive rock. It has been met with positive acclaim, particularly noted for its eclectic prog influences and the creative synergy of its musicians.

The album opens with "Fractured Self," a track that immediately grips the listener with its blend of calm moments and sudden, intense Crimsonian strings, creating a vivid sense of uncertainty. This is followed by "Body Expansion," which takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, characterized by its heavy introduction and evolving passages.

"Mutual Assured Destruction" and "Nine Gates to Dominion" continue the album's narrative with dark and somber episodes, raw guitars, and heavy passages that are beautifully contrasted by soft keyboard atmospheres and dreamy, cinematic moods.

The centerpiece of the album, "Extinction Phase," is an 18-minute epic that showcases the band's ability to craft monolithic soundscapes, only to tear them apart with boundless energy in the next moment. The album concludes with "The Crust of This Earth," a shorter but no less impactful track that leaves the listener with a lasting impression of the band's musical prowess.

The musicianship of Markus Reuter on touch guitars, Alexander Paul Dowerk also on touch guitars, Bernhard Wöstheinrich on keyboards and electronics, and Asaf Sirkis on drums and percussion, is top-notch. Their collective instant composition defies norms, creating a unique style that's been described as progressive avant-garde doom-jazz post-metal.