BURNER

Seminal math trio from the fertile hardcore & experimental rock scenes of the northeastern U.S., Breadwinner resulted after Virginia bands Honor Role and Butterglove split up, spearheaded by madman guitarist Pen Rollings with Bobby Donne on bass and the bare-knuckle drumming of Chris Farmer. Burner is a screeching crunch fest of players eager to show how you can do hardcore sh*t with precision and taste, and is one of the crucial early releases in what became known as Mathrock. 'Tourettes' is loud and has some unnerving vocalizations. The madness of 'Ditch', relentless thrash in 'Kisses Men on the Mouth on the Mountain', mathcore of 'Prescott', and twisted, chugging metal for 'Macs Oranges', 'Knighton' and 'Turtlehead' just leaves the listener wanting more.

Cited as "the consummate math band", Breadwinner's singles from 1991 & '92 and this compilation from '94 were key in the direction taken by like-minded groups in the Mathrock movement and their uncompromising blend of ratty metal, post-punk energy and rhythmic obsessiveness paved the way for a new voice in instrumental insanity. A must for serious mathies.