Having ties to bigger bands can sometimes be a great thing, it might give your band the leg up they need, however it can also be a detriment if your music sucks. Rise To Remain spring to mind here, the band that feature Bruce Dickinson’s son, a dire Metalcore band promoted by Maiden and paraded in front of old school Metalheads, surely this is part of the reason the band split? Even with that exposure if the music is bad then it’s just bad. A band who don’t have this issue are Netherlands own Soulburn.
With strong links to Asphyx and even featuring ex-Asphyx member Eric Daniels this band has their fair share of history. Their 1998 debut Feeding On Angels being somewhat of a cult classic, however like many Death Metal albums of that era it perhaps came a bit too late. Now Soulburn aren’t just Death Metal, they’ve been known to add flashes of Black and Doom Metal into the mix also, with great success. Their discography is sparse though and Noa’s D’ark marks only the fourth entry in their catalogue, can this Century Media Records release prove to the world that Soulburn are a driving force?
The album begins with the highly epic The Morgue Of Hope. The song has a Doom feel to it, particularly the opening riffs that hang in dissonant extremity like a barbaric, atmospheric fog. Indeed, this flows into the Death Metal vocals very well, truly hook heavy and crushing. The melodic portions also add a great deal of atmosphere, proving that Soulburn are more than just barbaric OSDM. Titular track Noah’s Dark follows, this is a more abrasive purist Death Metal track, it evokes a lot of The Satanist vibes too. Continuing with this Behemoth streak is Tempter Ov The White Light and it isn’t just the name that’s Nergal worshipping the music is also rather similar. Personally, I love this and the song is one of my favourites from the album, the rumbling bass and hook heavy nature makes it a real winner. Ending this first half is Shrines Of Apathy which has a desperate vocal tone, gruff and miserable a brilliant sound especially when mixed with the somewhat aggressive melodic riffs and faster portions.
Assailed By The Comic Lightning even brings in this strange half clean vocal, it’s really quite different but not at all out of place. In fact, I’d be keen to see Soulburn introduce this element further. Giving us more of that Doom feel is Triumphant One, truly an epic display of Death Metal that is haunting and AOR in projection. Anointed-Blessed-And Born For Burning is another Blackened Death assault leaning into some almost Belphegor territory. The extremely hook heavy and anthemic belter The Godless I follows ensuring to keep the listeners interest even at this late stage of the record. The album closes with From Archaeon Into Oblivion, it’s a strong all round track with plenty of Blackened Death atmosphere that is really bombastic, I would love to see this live in an old church much like the Colchester Arts Centre near my home town, it would be a perfect setting. Think eternal damnation and that’s Soulburn’s sound here.
This is some really strong stuff and whilst I can’t speak for the band’s whole discography it’s easily as good if not better than the band’s classic debut. It’s always nice when an older band just drop something this massive. Soulburn really are an unsung gem and a band that deserve a lot more praise, Noa’s D’ark proves that wholeheartedly and it’d be a shame for this not to be recognised in the wider Metal community. The album kind of covers all bases if you like Extreme Metal, sure none of the elements are especially different but combined they create quite the sound.
(8/10 George Caley)
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