Website [Release date 04.11.26]
Formed in Bangalore in 2011, Rainburn have built an international reputation through a series of releases and extensive touring across India. After surviving a near-death experience while stranded at sea, Rainburn frontman Vats Iyengar transformed the ordeal into this album which across nine connected songs, explores faith, humanity’s perceived superiority over nature, love and mortality.
Rainburn consists of Vats Iyengar (vocals, guitars, bass, synthesizers, samples),
Neilroy Miranda (drums, background vocals, synthesizers, samples) and Saakallya Biswas (acoustic guitar, background vocals).
“The sonic template for this record was very different from what we’ve had in the past – we were referencing bands like Depeche Mode, Rammstein and Nine Inch Nails far more than bands that are usually classified as prog,” says Iyengar. “Of course, all these new elements were pulled into the ambit of the Rainburn sound, so this is very much a deeply conceptual progressive rock album, albeit with some unique twists.”
‘thirty-seven’ is proper immersive album as the music demands the listener’s full attention and reveals a little more on each subsequent play. ‘defy’ (the band deliberately used lower case on all the album’s song titles) being a case in point, with swirling synths, precise drumming and a lovely, melodic vocal harmonies. If latter day Depeche Mode jammed with Pineapple Thief it may well sound like this.
‘kings’ veers from gentle acoustic guitar passages into some serious guitar crunch, whilst album opener ‘capsize’ allows Rainburn to show off their vocal prowess.
Vats Iyengar has an eerie quality to his vocals, particularly on ‘nearer’. The synths, drums and guitars all combine to good effect on this song. Saakallya Biswas’s acoustic guitar playing is perhaps the hidden gem on the record, as his playing pops up in unexpected places and can help add some light to the rather dark lyrical themes and music.
If like me, you have never heard of Rainburn, rectify that immediately and grab a copy of this album. Melodic and accessible prog that doesn’t disappear up its own musical backside with endless solos that some bands love but bores many a potential fan. ***1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 26 October 2026
BLACK RIVER DELTA Shame On You (Despotz Records)
DAYTONA Listen To The Silence (Escape Music)
SUCKERTRAP Sacred Lies (indie)
WOOD BURNT RED Count My Blessings (indie)
BLACKLIST UNION Heavy Is The Crown (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 26 October 2026
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)
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