Burial Remains – Trinity of Deception

Band: Burial Remains
Title: Trinity of Deception
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Release date: 12 July 2019
Country: Netherlands
Format reviewed: High-quality Digital Promo

If you are a fan of old school death metal with Scandinavian or Dutch roots, it is the moment you have been waiting for in 2019. BURIAL REMAINS is here to crush your dull days. The band is releasing their debut album “Trinity of Deception” now, with featuring awesome line up: Sven on the vocals from the legendary FLESHCRAWL, Wim on guitars (GRIM FATE, BOAL), Philippus – guitars and bass (DIMAEON, BOAL) and Danny on drums (DISINTEGRATE, DIMAEON). According to the FB page of the band, their history started in December 2016 when Wim and Rai (Departed Souls) created MIASMA OF GUILT. Together with Philippus they started writing songs influenced by the early death metal scene and some of the most important bands – AUTOPSY, BOLT THROWER, DISMEMBER, GRAVE. In April 2017 Danny joined. Unfortunately the project didn’t work out as planned and the guys parted ways. By the end of 2017, Wim, Philippus and Danny decided to continue with the music, and changed the name to BURIAL REMAINS.

The filthy guitars, the intense drumming, the harsh vocals – everything is like this album was released in the glorious for the death metal 90-94 period. Back then when the bands were competing which one will release heavier, filthier and in the same time advantageous in terms of composing and playing album. Scandinavian scene was the example, however the Dutch guys somehow always looked meaner and their level of brutality often overtook the Swedes. Legendary Dutch bands left scars in the skin of the death metal history with their devastating tones and albums. I’m not going to mention names here, but the lovers of the scene know what I’m talking about.

Since those epic death metal years, I’m always looking for great death metal bands in the present, just to bring me back to the glory of those days. BURIAL REMAINS definitely made it. All the seven tracks are cooked in the oven of hellish death metal, with all the exquisite spices to feed the hunger. The album is contains hyper energy and top notch professionalism. It is mandatory to mention it has been mixed and mastered by Jonny Pettersson (WOMBBATH, HEADS FOR THE DEAD, NATTRAVNEN). The lovely artwork is done by Mortuus Art of SADISTIK FOREST. So, overall a starry participation in this album and its production.

Since the very beginning the heavy HM-2 riffs grab and don’t leave any air to breath til the end. “Crucifixion for the Vanquished” is a logical opener, containing all the parts which great death metal represent – speed, breakdown into slow part with mesmerizing short solo, and lots of hate. This continues into the pulsating “They Crawl”. For sure my one of my two favourite tracks in the album, is the title track – with the variety of tempo, rhythm and that devastating slow (burning) middle part…”March of the Undead” is slow, torturous experience in convulsion just before the ultra heavy “Burn With Me” to hit in and to terminate the life on planet Earth. The track features Ralf (HEADS FOR THE DEAD, REVEL IN FLESH) himself on the vocals. This track contains all the hate on the Earth possible with another slowly burning mesemrizing short solo before the end of the track! Yes, this is my other favourite track. “Days of Dread” finishes what’s been started – total devastation. The final track on the record is a sinister cover version of KREATOR’s legendary “Tormentor”! Oh my!

“Trinity of Deception” is easily one of the best OSDM records of the year so far. Brutal, stinking, dirty. With length of only 25 minutes, it gets under the skin like plague until the total annihilation of the body and the soul. Only 25 minutes? Well, much better than over an hour album, drowning in boredom and similarity. Very clever move, just because after these 25 minutes, you will always be hungry for more BURIAL REMAINS. 9/10 Count Vlad