Burial Moon, an international Black Metal group (from Estonia, Switzerland, and Austria), shows signs of life for the first time with their self-titled album, Burial Moon.
The black and white cover aesthetic reminds me a bit of Burzum’s self-titled masterpiece, but fear not, the music doesn’t sound the same.
Based on the four song titles, the themes seem to revolve around nature mysticism and witchcraft, which perfectly complements the cover artwork.
Burial Moon plays a raw Black Metal style that doesn’t evoke a specific band, but that’s not a bad thing at all. The sound might be due to the musicians blending influences from their various countries of origin. Regardless, it fits well with the current raw Black Metal trend, and for a debut release, it’s quite impressive. Here’s hoping they showcase more of their skills in future releases.
The guitar sound is fast, thin, yet surprisingly warm and organic, all framed by blasting and furious drumming. The vocals are howled, occasionally reminding me, for a fleeting moment, of Urfaust during their ‘Geist ist Teufel’ era. To emphasize this effect, they’re mixed more into the background, creating a cavernous atmosphere.
Imagine druids gathering under the burial moon, chanting ancient, forgotten litanies to summon the netherworld. Their bloody hands smear unholy symbols on the cave walls in a ritual praising the beast within men. This is the occult atmosphere Burial Moon conjures.
In conclusion, Burial Moon’s debut release is entertaining and leaves the listener wanting more, a desire that will hopefully be fulfilled by future releases.
