When it comes to regional, geographical sounds and styles in metal, except maybe Stockholm, I don’t think there is any more distinct and recognizable sound than the New Orleans/Louisiana sound; Crowbar, Down, Eyehategod, Thou, Soilent Green, Acid Bath, Goatwhore, etc. That swampy, moist, fuzzy sound. You know it.
So when I got a promo for the re-released debut EP (it was originally self-released back in July) from New Orleans’ Burial Gift, there was a certain sound I was expecting. I did not get that sound.
What I got instead was another very distinct geographical sound: that of Cascadian Black metal.
Yep, this sublime 3-song 19-minute EP is a full-on Atmospheric/Cascadian Black metal effort that you might hear from the likes of Alda, Wolves in the Throne Room, Downfall of Gaia (yes, I know they are from Germany, but they have ‘that’ sound), and such, but these guys also really remind me of Sunbather-era Deafheaven. Shrill, fierce, but emotive melodies, a few atmospheric bridges here and there, etc. But holy shit does this smoke.
The three songs on this cassette, “Sear”, “Elegy Azure”, and “Hollow Bloom” (is that a Deafheaven song name or what?) are all filled with stunning, simply gorgeous tremolo-picked 6/8 melodies, especially the middle track “Elegy Azure”, which bursts out of the gate with bristling but airy melodies. “Hollow Bloom” has a more introspective mood and reflective moments, but wraps up the all too EP with a jangy, ferocious few minutes, signaling these guys might be onto something special with future efforts, and I’ll be looking forward to it.
