It’s been nothing but upwards since Ov Sulfur dropped their EP in 2021, as they toured across America with the likes of Whitechapel, Shadow Of Intent and more. Now they are here in an attempt to further scorch the earth with “The Burden Ov Faith”. With some well-known names to spice up their songs, they come in hard with the standard breakdowns and gutturals, while throwing in some Cradle of Filth influences to spice things up.
The album kicks off with ‘Stained In Rot’ which punches you in the face with blast beats, brutal chugs whilst the entire vibe screams in your face intensely. Its orchestral backing and harmonised tremolos really kicks this album off nicely. The next two songs include features from Alex Terrible (Slaughter To Prevail) and Taylor Barber (Left To Suffer), two of the biggest names in deathcore right now. Their vocal styles seem to fit this type of sound very well, but they seem to become buried in the mix and renders their contributions inaudible at points. ‘Death Ov Circumstance’ includes a dramatic, fast paced rhythm that is heard throughout. The backing orchestral elements are extremely prominent on this song; along with the instrumentals they create a truly gigantic sound; so much so, it’s almost too quiet when its over. Here and on next song ‘Earthen’ we get guest vocalist Ricky Hoover, who sounds on top form throughout.
After a short interlude, the second half begins with what can only be described as a sense of dread and gloom. ‘Wide Open’ features the immense talent that is Howard Jones, but as soon as he opens his mouth you find out that this was a crossover that we didn’t know we needed. Howard’s vocals strangely blend in with the evil happening in the background, proving that you can get this man on any track and he will grace it with hauntingly amazing vocals. As much of a risk as it seemed on paper, in reality it pays off immensely. The title track being the album closer features Kyle Medina (Bodysnatcher) and Lindsay Schoolcraft (Coldbound, Antiqva, ex-Cradle Of Filth). It’s another strange mix but once again, we’re fooled by the absolute beauty that this song provides. The blend from from each vocalist gives you a taste of what can work with deathcore that tries something new and proves to you that a band doesn’t need to stick to a pattern in order to grow in the genre. From start to finish you can see why Ov Sulfur not only made this the title track but also made it the album closer, ending the album on something of a sweet spot.
Deathcore aficionados will know people have been trying to fold in blackened elements for years, but it wasn’t until Lorna Shore dropped ‘To the Hellfire’ that the floodlights shone on it, giving bands like Ov Sulfur even more exposure to the genre’s fans. The limelight couldn’t have come at a better time; Ov Sulfur make the most of it, crafting a ferocious, evil debut that’s required listened for any deathcore fan.