BURNY PROJECT grass wall - ain't dead yet 25EC-1008

Flames of Guitar: Burny Project’s ‘Grass Wall – Ain’t Dead Yet’ (25EC-1008)

Today’s entry focuses on a notable solo project from the rich Japanese heavy metal scene of the 80s: “Grass Wall – Ain’t Dead Yet” by Burny Project, released on Love Records with the catalog number 25EC-1008.

Issued in 1986, this 12-inch vinyl LP is centered around the formidable guitar talents of Masanori “Burny” Kusakabe, known for his work with the J-Metal band Sniper. This solo endeavor provided Burny with a platform to showcase his distinct guitar style and compositional skills outside of his main band.

“Grass Wall – Ain’t Dead Yet” is a powerful display of 80s heavy metal and hard rock, heavily focused on Burny’s impressive guitar work, and also features him handling some vocal duties. The album boasts a lineup of highly skilled musicians drawn from the vibrant Japanese metal scene: Tomohiko “Tomo” Kishimoto (Murbas, Reaction) also shares lead vocal duties, Takanobu Kimoto (Saber Tiger, Precious, Concerto Moon, etc.) handles bass, Masato Yamaguchi (Babylon, Feel So Bad) is on drums, and Masashi “Jill” Okagaki (Terra Rosa, Jill’s Project, Precious, etc.) provides keyboard textures.

This strong lineup ensures a high level of musicianship across the album, delivering a potent collection of expertly played heavy metal and hard rock centered around Burny’s guitar prowess. 25EC-1008 stands as a significant release for fans of Burny Kusakabe’s guitar playing, Sniper, and the collaborative spirit of the 80s J-Metal scene, capturing top-tier talent joining forces on a compelling project.