Review Summary: Lots ov the same, with a twist ov something different.
I’ve tried to get myself into deathcore quite a few times, and yet for some reason I cannot. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the talent ov the musicians or the laser-precise technicality the genre requires, it’s that when technicality or musical chops take precedence over the music itself, I rapidly lose interest. As a result there have been very few deathcore bands that I have really been able to get myself into, not because
they are boring, but because I stop caring.
So why does
The Burden ov Faith, Ov Sulfur’s debut LP, seem different? Is it because it shakes up the normal deathcore formula a bit? Are the songs ov higher quality? Is it actually just, you know, good? Well... sort ov.
I had to warm up to this album a bit, mostly because so much ov it is just straight, pure, standard, utterly normal deathcore. Riffs, breakdowns, slams, blast beats, and frenetic changes in tone and tempo are all present, and in great quantities. Truthfully, all ov the instrumentals are top-notch, but in the context ov their genre, they spend a lot ov time not doing much that is interesting. The chaotic insanity starts to sound monotonous about three songs in and despite their best efforts, there is little that changes the homogenous quality ov the instrumentation.
Further, while Ricky Hoover does do an admirable job on his vocal delivery, it is standard deathcore fair. Grating highs, bellowing lows, and kind ov irritating squeals dominate the album’s runtime. Again, none ov it is bad (in fact most ov it is good), it’s just that even his vocal performance places more emphasis on his technical ability than creating any sort ov emotional impact.
So how does this album set itself apart? It throws in symphonic death metal. Yep. Throughout the album, Hoover and co., utilize strings, clean vocals and moments ov atmospheric calm to add some depth and meaning to the songwriting. That melodic element is used to offset even the most chaotic segments ov the album, and is what helped me grab my attention and keep me moving through the record. Hoover’s clean vocals, while they may not really belong on a true deathcore record, also proficiently slip a layer ov beauty under the onslaught ov blast beats and breakdowns.
This element manages to make the album worth listening to. It does do something different and shakes up the normal formula, the songs are made better through the utilization ov melody and atmosphere, and the album, as a result, is actually pretty fun to listen to. I likely won't be going back to it again, but for what it's worth, it can be a good time.
