For years now, the Greek underground has astounded me. With its massive power and presence that has been emerging from its depths for decades with the likes of Dødsferd being but one of many names to come to my mind when talking about the likes of Greek excellence with the constant stream of mastery not something that has been able to be stifled for any rhyme or reason. Over twenty years later since their first assault, Burial Hordes has been a secret that only the most pervasive of Greek underground surveyors have been lucky enough to know with their newest record not something to be denied whatsoever.
When we’re given a band like this, it’s hard to turn away from for all that it dares to bring forth and all that it accomplishes despite the obstacles in its way. After four full-length albums over the course of thirteen years, it remains astonishing to me that the name of Burial Hordes is not more widespread for if even a fraction of the power that’s on display throughout the very whole of their fifth record, “Ruins”, I find it damn near criminal that more don’t hail their power. It’s one thing to bring together the worlds of death and black metal for a performance that we’ve all heard before from any number of bands, but it’s another altogether to barely succeed at defeating the odds and creating a sound with such personality that it can only be attributed to you. For Burial Hordes, their pulsating breed of black/death metal is not quite much else that I’ve heard throughout many over the years with the eight tracks presented to us here just as unyielding as they are carnivorous in their endeavors to rain hellfire upon the world. Ferocious as all material in this particular vein of metal should be without ever once compromising with its power for introspective themes or the occasional albeit brief moments of atmosphere that cut right to the bone, “Ruins” stands terrifyingly tall as an effort that demands more pay heed to the very essence that possesses Burial Hordes.
A five-year gap since any sort of a release is a hell of a pause for any act with the sheer mastery that Burial Hordes delivers here is more than enough to elevate this record above many of its contemporaries no matter the standard one may use. “Ruins” has much to call its own with all that it represents for Burial Hordes in their silent ascent through the underground with all that’s been conjured here being more than enough that should finally bring to light the undeniable excellence of Burial Hordes. If that doesn’t come to pass, however, I have no doubt that Burial Hordes is more than content in the unseen, conniving in the shadows were none can see their plots come to fruition until it is far too late.
“Ruins” releases on June 9th via Transcending Obscurity Records!
LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Ruins” on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Burial Hordes on Facebook here.
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