''Foundations of Burden'' is the second studio album by the American

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band

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. It was released on August 19, 2014 via

Profound Lore Records Profound Lore Records is a Canadian independent record label founded in May 2004. The label primarily focuses on releasing extreme metal and experimental albums. It "began as the 'hobby-like venture' of a few friends but, over the past six year ...

. Recording sessions took place at Type Foundry Studios in

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from February to March 2014. Production was handled by Billy Anderson. The album debuted at number 90 on the ''Billboard'' 200, number 10 on the

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and number 14 on the

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charts in the United States and number 19 on the Official Independent Album Breakers Chart in the United Kingdom.

Critical reception

''Foundations of Burden'' was met with universal acclaim from

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. At

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, which assigns a

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rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an

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score of 88 based on sixteen reviews. The aggregator AnyDecentMusic? has the critical consensus of the album at a 8.2 out of 10, based on eleven reviews. John Semley of ''

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'' praised the album, calling it "a master class in School of Iommi

". Jason Heller of ''

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'' also praised the album, writing "it's quite simply moving, the sounds of dislocated souls finding a voice at last". Natalie Zina Walschots of ''

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'' called it "an effort that is even more emotionally ambitious an undertaking, and all the more wounding for its beauty". Brandon Stosuy of ''

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'' resumed: "as obsessed as Pallbearer is with endings, the music here is timeless". Michael Madden of ''

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'' claimed: "even though the album is crushing, the band's penchant for melody is what elevates ''Foundations of Burden'' above otherwise comparable records from this year".

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's Thom Jurek found "the album and its production make catharsis part of an evolutionary process, not an end in itself". Sam Shepherd of ''

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'' noted the album "showcases the development in the band's songwriting skills". Steve Lampiris of ''

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'' called it a "fantastic sophomore effort". Sean McCarthy of ''

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'' wrote: "if there are any faults on ''Foundations of Burden'', it's that the middle portion of the album tends to succumb to a sameness sound, which is almost inevitable when you have two 10-minute plus tracks back to back. Fortunately, the demand for subsequent listens is hardly a laborious task, given Brett Campbell's stellar, sustained vocal delivery". In mixed reviews, ''

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'' writer concluded: "''Foundations of Burden'' is special, there's little question of that, but the precocious virtuosity of the performance doesn't change the fact that the material is far from challenging".

Track listing

Personnel

* Brett Campbell – lead vocals, guitar * Devin Holt – vocals (tracks: 1, 3), guitar * Joseph D. Rowland – vocals (tracks: 1, 4, 5), bass guitar, Rhodes piano, analog synthesizer * Mark Lierly – drums * Billy Anderson – producer, recording, mixing, engineering * Rohan Sforcina – engineering assistant * Justin Weis – mastering * Erin Pierce – photography * Diana Lee Zadlo – photography * Chimere Noire – layout

Charts

References

External links

* {{Authority control 2014 albums Pallbearer (band) albums Profound Lore Records albums