Album Review: Arcane Tongues – Third-Degree Burnout (Self Released)

London based alt-rock project, Arcane Tongues will release their debut album, ‘Third-Degree Burnout’, on July 18th. The 10-track album was written and recorded in London, and mixed and mastered in Mexico City. It’s a deeply personal project for Arcane Tongues a journey through burnout, emotional turbulence, and creative rebirth.

A long time coming (one of the songs on the album we covered in a Single Slam back in October 2023), Arcane Tongues’ hard work finally comes to fruition and the result is a dynamic and anthemic release. One rooted in the alternative rock world, but not exclusively so. Happily, over the ten tracks, the band showcases variety and with that, create something so much more compelling.

Kicking things off in groovy fashion, the title track brings the riffs. Showcasing immediate infectious qualities via punchy rock rhythms. Arcane Tongues set the bar high early on, but delight in trying to surpass it. Showing off more imagination with the brilliant Valenica. A track that gets better and better the more you hear it. Especially as it draws influence from the themes of desert rock but infuses Spanish flavours into it resulting in a more unique listen that is energised throughout.

Rocking and rolling, the album ticks along nicely with a little more softness via Broken Promises (although the chorus injects life), the melodic and moody monotony of Ego Mechanic, and the vibrant melodrama of Swaying Souls. The latter’s vocal layering changes things up notably, but the smooth melody is what really stands out. It’s a lovely track, but so is Homecoming. Especially as it’s a track filled with a ton of heart and soul, and anyone who has ever felt homesick can relate to this. It’s very cool that Arcane Tongues come at it from a more vigorous perspective too, which helps make it much more infectious.

The first half of the record is very memorable and very likable, and happily, the latter part doesn’t disappoint either. Not when an old-school rock tune like Old Hopes Die Last is on offer, or something potent like Dry exists, and Night on Fire brings the energy back with aplomb. All classy tracks that prove without a shadow of a doubt that Arcane Tongues have gone the ‘all killer, no filler’ route.

Case in point, the finale of Bring it Back Home, a grin-inducing rock ballad that is delivered at a leisurely pace and manages to be so damn anthemic. It’s a very cool closing track and the perfect way for Arcane Tongues to sign off. Mission accomplished, all the hard work has well and truly paid off. It’s a great rock album.

Arcane Tongues – Third-Degree Burnout Track Listing:

1. Third-Degree Burnout
2. Valencia
3. Broken Promises
4. Ego Mechanic
5. Swaying Souls
6. Homecoming
7. Old Hopes Die Last
8. Dry
9. Night on Fire
10. Bring it Back Home

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