OSDM, what an odd term. That’s Old School Death Metal for you non-Death Metal types. I say odd because of the wave of newer ‘OSDM’ styled bands that we see now. There has been a huge resurgence in this sound. At first, I viewed it as a touch try hard, but now I realise that it’s just a bunch of worshippers doing their job well. Sure, there are a few that I’m not overtly fond of (I won’t name drop but one sounds a bit too much like Death). Even still it’s strong music, and it’s nice for people of my generation who missed out on that first wave.
So taking us back to the 90’s are the Australian power trio Faceless Burial. They dropped a demo in 2015 and a couple years later a full length entitled Grotesque Miscreation. I don’t recall the album making many waves but nevertheless the band soldiered on. Now in 2020 however the band have reached a good peak with a signing to Dark Descent Records and the UK’s own Me Saco Un Ojo. This signing has come with the bands second full length Speciation. It promises riffs for days and a range of Death Metal pleasures.
The album cracks open with the aptly named Worship, aptly named as it so kneels before the altar of 90’s Death Metal. Death-like riffs come to the surface amid a thicker more savage backing of drums and rumbling bass. Vocally it takes on the shape of Incantation with dissonant growls of cavernous might. Limbic Infirmary continues with similar themes as well as some sluggish guitar work that gives the track a sort of Suffocation nod. I enjoy Faceless Burial’s light touches to Tech as well, executed with precision and not at all overbearing, very 90s indeed. The shortest song for the album Irreparably Corpsed picks up the pace with a mass of speed driven Death Metal might, dashed here and there with flurries of Tech, special commendations to drummer Max Kohane here.
The lengthy title track follows with a bubbling and brewing introduction full of borderline Doom driven OSDM. Again, the drumming within is exceptional, even at points exuding a sort of modern Goregrind/ D-Beat pattern. The solo from guitarist Fuj also deserves a mention, beautiful playing and so well adapted to Faceless Burial’s ever-changing presence. Slightly overshadowed by its predecessors Spuming Catarrhal Gruel is a less exciting affair, yet more gleaming guitar work makes it a strong listen none the less. Finally the album comes to a climax in Ravished To The Unknown, and what a climax it is, again Fuj’s guitars bring the track to life through memorable and huge riffs, an incredible example of OSDM done perfectly.
I have to say that some of the instrumentation on this release is extraordinary and truly the band have lived up to their brief of a wide mixture of Death Metal cultures. Yet it’s not so messy that it alienates certain scenes, rather it brings them together. This is the sort of Tech that I can see even a purist getting behind for example. There is a powerful quality to Faceless Burial that I have not seen in the modern OSDM scene before, these guys are surely one the watch.
(8/10 George Caley)
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