At long last, the wait is over: as promised, today Times of Grace have released their first new song in ten years, “The Burden of Belief.” It’s the lead single from their first new album in ten years, Songs of Loss and Separation.
Some fans might be concerned that Loss will not be a Killswitch Engage album in name only, given that the band is led by KSE’s Jesse Leach (vocals) and Adam Dutkiewicz (guitar). Those fears might be aggravated by the fact that Times of Grace’s first album, The Hymn of a Broken Man, did, indeed, have a bunch of very Killswitchy material on it (which didn’t seem like a big deal at that point because it was during the period Leach wasn’t in KSE, but now…).
Fans can rest easy: “Burden” sounds nothing like Killswitch Engage. I don’t mean like “Gee this would be kinda different for KSE,” the way a song like “Desperate Times” is; I mean if I didn’t know “Burden” was by some of the dudes from Killswitch, I would never ever have guessed as much.
The verses have a soulful, bluesy quality that makes it sound kinda like a long-lost collaboration between Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Seven Mary Three. The chorus takes a grungier direction, and there’s an intensely emotional bridge that kinda reminds me of Sevendust. It’s all A+++ WDBWA-level stuff.
Leach recently called the material on Loss “diverse,” so “Burden” may not ultimately be indicative of how the whole record sounds. BUT… Leach also said that Loss is “much different from the first record,” and “Burden” is most certainly that. Those comments and this song, put together, make me really excited for Songs of Loss and Separation.
Check out “The Burden of Belief” via the below video, which was directed by Nick Hipa.
Says Leach of the track:
“This song is the spark of the oncoming fire. It foreshadows the journey of this album. This song is an unveiling of who we, Times of Grace, have become after all of these years. This is a testimony of falling apart, losing faith, letting go, and the desire to kill and purge the past. It is the unraveling, the catharsis and the rebirth. So it begins….”
Adds Dutkiewicz:
“It almost feels strange finally releasing the songs on this record, especially this one. I started writing this song over 10 years ago, so it’s been around for quite some time. I really hope you guys dig it, and I hope we will get the opportunity to play it for you guys live someday. Thanks, everyone!”
No no no — thank YOU, sir!!!
Songs of Loss and Separation will be out July 16 via the band’s own imprint label, Wicked Good Records (way to embrace your Massachusetts roots, fellas!), distributed by ADA Worldwide. The band is now officially rounded out by ex-Envy on the Coast drummer Dan Gluszak, who toured with ToG behind their first album and now is a member for really real.
Pre-order Songs of Loss and Separation here, and check out the band’s newly-relaunched D2C webstore, with brand new merch and exclusive limited vinyl offerings, here.
