The Burning Hell is a band fronted by songwriter Mathias Kom and multi-instrumentalist Ariel Sharratt, particularly known for their literate songwriting, DIY ethos, and dynamic live performances. Kom holds a PhD in
ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and methodical approaches that emphasize cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dim ...
at
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, also known as Memorial University or MUN (), is a public university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook, elsewhere in Newfoundland and ...
, where he studied the political economy of DIY music.
History
The Burning Hell began in 2006 as the songwriting project of Mathias Kom. During the first few years of the band's existence, band membership fluctuated from tour to tour and album to album and the band's instrumentation was often determined by what instruments Kom's friends played. The regular touring and recording lineup from 2011 to 2016 was consistently Kom, Ariel Sharratt (clarinet), Darren Browne (guitar), Nick Ferrio (bass) and Jake Nicoll (drums). Since 2013 Kom and Sharratt have embarked on occasional duo tours and since 2017 the band has toured with a variety of lineups, always including Sharratt—who switches between drums, bass, and woodwinds—and frequently Browne and/or Nicoll.
Known for their live shows and hyper-literate lyrics, The Burning Hell have toured extensively in Europe, North America, and Australia. Kom's songs frequently take the form of fantastic narratives ("Bird Queen of Garbage Island", "The Stranger", "Barbarians", "Nonfiction", "Grave Situation Pt. 1"). Other subject matter has included the apocalypse ("When the World Ends", "Supermoon", "Birdwatching"); failure and amateurism ("Give Up", "Amateur Rappers", "Professional Rappers"); and nostalgia and pop music ("Nostalgia", "Men Without Hats", "Grown-Ups").
In 2011, Kom and Sharratt co-founded the Lawnya Vawnya Music Festival in St. John's, Newfoundland.
In 2012 the band played 10 shows between the Netherlands and Slovenia in twenty-four hours. The band claims the unofficial world record for playing the most shows in different countries in 24 hours.
In 2014, the tribute album ''My Name Is Mathias'', featuring Canadian and international musicians performing the band's songs, was released, featuring covers by artists such as
John K. Samson
John Kristjan Samson (born 1973) is a Canadian musician from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is a singer-songwriter and best known as the frontman of the Canadian indie folk/rock band The Weakerthans. He also played bass in the punk band Propagandhi duri ...
Public Library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants.
There are ...
'' in 2016, ''Revival Beach'' in 2017 and ''Never Work'' in 2020. A new album titled ''Garbage Island'' was self-recorded and produced by Kom, Sharratt, and Nicoll during the pandemic, and was released in 2022 on
You've Changed Records You've Changed Records is a Canadian independent record label founded in 2009 by Daniel Romano, Ian Kehoe of Attack in Black and Steve Lambke of Constantines.Baby'' (2009), Weewerk
* '' This Charmed Life'' (2010), Weewerk
* ''Flux Capacitor'' (2011), Weewerk
* '' People'' (2013), BB*Island
* ''
Public Library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants.
There are ...
'' (2016), BB*Island
* ''Revival Beach'' (2017), BB*Island
* ''Garbage Island'' (2022), BB*Island, You've Changed Records
EPs
* ''The Burning Hell and Construction & Destruction'' (2009) split 7-inch, Independent
* ''Saddle Sores'' (2011), Ticker Records
* ''Hear Some Evil'' (2011) split 7-inch with Wax Mannequin, Label Fantastic!
* ''Duets mit Germans'' (2011), Ticker Records
* ''Old, New, Borrowed, Blue'' (2013) 10-inch, Headless Owl Records
* ''Birdwatching On Garbage Island'' (2019), Independent
Singles
* "Grave Situation Part One" (2008) split 7-inch with Jenny Omnichord
* "Amateur Rappers" / "Professional Rappers" (2014) 7-inch
* "Pop Goes The World" / "Men Without Hats" (2016)
* "9 To 5" / "Game Of Pricks" (2019)
* "No Peace" (2019) split 7-inch with Boo Hoo
* "I Want to Drink in a Bar" (2020) split 7-inch with B.A. Johnston
* "Bird Queen of Garbage Island" / "Birdhouse in Your Soul" (2021) 7-inch with accompanying comic book
* "Nigel the Gannet"/ "Lark Descending" (2022)
Compilations
* ''My Name Is Mathias'' (2014), Headless Owl Records
* ''Live Animals'' (2015), Independent
Folk Duo Albums by Mathias Kom & Ariel Sharratt
* ''Don't Believe the Hyperreal'' (2015), Independent
* ''Never Work'' (2020), Independent
List of bands from Canada
This is a list of bands from Canada. Only bands appear here; individual musicians are listed at list of Canadian musicians.
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See also
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