While
the poorly-pitched cover image for The Burden of Restlessness might
suggest it’s a brutal death metal record, King Buffalo actually offer up
proggy rock, with as much shoegaze as there is shoe stomping. So – although it
has some more bruising aspects – for the most part expect spacey riffs, open
air basslines, long instrumental parts and a general dreamy glaze. Porcupine
Tree is a notable touchstone, as is early Oceansize. King
Buffalo have really found their feet on album four, allowing much more room
for everything to breathe and trusting the main hook to do the heavy lifting so
that elsewhere they can explore. Even when things get chunkier, like on the
musically robust (and lyrically disturbing) ‘Hebetation’, or on ‘Grifter’
(which recalls early Tool), it still is an album to which you
can close your eyes and drift away. Nothing is rushed. The
Burden of Restlessness may therefore infuriate the impatient, but give
it time and you’ll find it’s quality ‘heavy mood music’.