Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Burialmound - Devil's Work - 2006 - Sound Riot Records

Track Listing1. C 2. Holders of Power 3. At Golgotha I Masturbate 4. Todenslut 5. From Promised Land 6. Primevil Discipline 7. Calliphoridae 8. Sisters of Sodomy 9. Vision of Darkness

Burialmound are, on the surface, a fairly unremarkable black metal band hailing from Finland. Their latest release, “Devil’s Work,” contains all the typical elements of traditional black metal, and no significant traces of outside influence, save some death metal riffing here and there, which was never all that uncommon in the black metal world to begin with. Unlike many other bands from Finland, however, Burialmound are able to execute the old-school Norwegian style of black metal very nicely. The majority of black metal bands from outside Norway tend to either combine old-school black metal with other elements (aka symphonic, Viking, atmospheric influences) or face the risk of sounding like an Immortal rip-off. Burialmound do neither, and still make some pretty good music.

Guitar variation is what seems to do it for Burialmound, as instead of repeating the same overused riff over and over again throughout a song (or even the entire album!), they manage to keep things interesting. Guitarist Orch is fairly adventurous for someone who is more or less adhering to a strict black metal style. In the song “Todenslut,” he even pulls of a guitar solo – something that’s rarely seen in rawer black metal. Raven, who handles vocal duties for the band, has several different vocal ranges which he is constantly alternation between. This technique is far more interesting and entertaining than a monotonous, mid-range rasp that many black metal vocalists seem confined to these days.

Burialmound haven’t done anything especially unique or innovative with “Devil’s Work,” but they HAVE accomplished a feat that the black metal world sees less and less of as we move further and further away from the early nineties. They have produced a solid black metal album that pays homage to all of the classic bands while at the same time maintaining their own distinct sound, instead of sounding like a recycled clone. Dedicated black metal fans should pick this disc up, although I doubt it will be of much interest to fans of metal in general.


7.5/10


--Veritas 11.09.06