Reviews list for Ov Sulfur - The Burden ov Faith (2023)

Another new band has joined the epic blackened deathcore league, Ov Sulfur with their debut The Burden of Faith. Unlike their peers such as Shadow of Intent and Lorna Shore, they cranked up the black metal-ish evil irreligious lyrics which I'm not really fond of in other bands, but here, I still love it!

I must point out how strong vocalist Ricky Hoover is. He's quite experienced from his former band Suffokate before he left that band and became a barber until COVID. He's got great vocal variation in his high screams and low growls, and even some cleans in the choruses that sound natural and never too cheesy. I also enjoy the guest vocalists in their respective songs, and I look forward to talking about them all here.

For the opening track, "Stained in Rot", it's filled with blackened slam-deathcore that occasional cools down for melodic moments. However, it seems quite rushed for an album's beginning track. Still it's enjoyable, and the album's perfection isn't affected. The strong "Befouler" is more interesting, charging with its riffs and symphonics. The crushing growls by Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail are actually quite good and brutal. "Unraveling" is more mid-paced, sounding similar to The Breathing Process. Some chaotic vocals can be heard from Left to Suffer vocalist Taylor Barber (not a barber like Ricky Hoover was).

"Death ov Circumstance" is more technical, almost coming into Born of Osiris territory. "Earthen" has more ominous symphonics that sound so beautiful and melancholic. Hoover wrote that song in memory of his nephew who passed away from cancer when he was only 16. Within the darkness, there's some hope in "A Path to Salvation?", the album's midway interlude. Then you fall back into the depths as "I, Apostate" begins. Now this may have a bit of cheese, particularly in the chant of "We are darkness, the forsaken". Well I'm quite used to it considering how much I enjoy "In Darkness" and "Unbreakable" from the new Lorna Shore album, although those tracks work out better. Still the symphonics and heavy breakdown adds to the more serious side.

"Wide Open" is another epic highlight. Still having the epic deathcore of early Betraying the Martyrs, it touches in on the metalcore of While She Sleeps, Burst, and The Ghost Inside, especially in the melodic chorus sung by Howard Jones (Light the Torch, ex-Killswitch Engage). "The Inglorious Archetype" is indeed like a more brutal Becoming the Archetype. The grand title finale is incredible in the guitarwork, as well as guest vocals by Bodysnatcher's Kyle Medina and ex-Cradle of Filth member Lindsay Schoolcraft.

I feel there's one track that could've had slight improvement, but that doesn't stop Ov Sulfur's debut from becoming another glorious experience. My love of epic blackened deathcore has made me enjoy albums like this a lot more than I would have when I was younger. Another true standout in this growing trend!

Favorites: "Befouler", "Unraveling", "Earthen", "Wide Open", "The Burden of Faith"