“You’re dying for nothing.”
Some of the best music will fly under your personal radar and you’ll be scratching your head wondering how you might have missed out, which is my exact thought process when exploring Las Vegas deathcore quintet Ov Sulfur. Boasting a fruitful fusion of modern blackened deathcore with the soaring clean choruses of metalcore, this is a group that has pledged their undying support to the deathcore revival movement. Breathing new life into the scene with their debut EP Oblivion in 2021, the band has proven that deathcore can be made accessible for other audiences whilst staying true to the extreme metal aspects the genre is known for. Now, just two short years later, Ov Sulfur are ready to unleash hell upon the world with their debut LP, The Burden ov Faith, which is a record that will undoubtedly subvert the expectations of anyone not fully on board with their sound. The Burden ov Faith sees the act utilizing some new songwriting tricks, an expanded production palette, and the sparse addition of strong guest features that elevate the record beyond its already masterful status.
“Stained in Rot” and “Befouler” kick the album into gear, and Ov Sulfur displays a newfound songwriting prowess almost immediately. “Befouler” is especially memorable, with an explosive vocal feature courtesy of Slaughter to Prevail’s Alex Terrible atop earth-shattering breakdowns and satisfying bass drops. Yet, despite the pure filth radiating from these tracks, Ov Sulfur do not shy away from the element that separates them from other deathcore bands; that being the clean-driven choruses. Ricky Hoover proves himself to be one of modern deathcore’s leading vocal talents, effortlessly swerving in and out of a wide range of styles, be they beautiful or brutal. This should not take the spotlight away from the other personnel, however. Musically, Ov Sulfur is sounding tighter than ever, as these opening tracks contain myriad interesting guitar leads and a variety of tempos. Ov Sulfur strikes a delicate balance between the explosiveness of deathcore and the groovy, melodic nature of metalcore, and it establishes a foundation that is sure to weather many, many listens.
Left to Suffer’s Taylor Barber makes a welcome appearance on “Unraveling”, but this is not the only welcoming surprise. While Hoover and Barber are certainly a destructive duo, the focal point of this track is its structure, which, dare I say, is almost….catchy? The chorus here is nothing short of spectacular, sporting an appetizing layer of symphonic elements while groove-laden drum patterns and otherwise tight instrumentation comprise the main course. “Death Ov Circumstance” is reassurance that this behemoth of an LP will not slow down, as this track in particular serves as a perfect example of symphonic integration within extreme metal. The production is phenomenally balanced and the mix is pristine, resulting in a final product that shines bright as an early track-of-the-year contender. The Burden ov Faith continues to impress, and I find myself struggling to find anything even remotely negative to say.
“Earthen”, yet another previously released cut from this debut LP, showcases a somber, emotionally-driven side of the Vegas metallers. Written about Hoover’s nephew who tragically passed due to cancer at sixteen years old, the tone of this track is established by its harrowing lyricism. Lines such as “I’ve begged and pleaded above and below” convey sinking feelings of grief and despair that one would associate with such a loss. Despite being released as a single, “Earthen” is still a notable highlight due to its lyrical contrast with the remainder of the album. While much of the album questions the existence of a god and criticizes humanity’s desire to seek one out, “Earthen” expands on this concept with a personal anecdote, and the result is one of the band’s strongest offerings to date.
The album’s midway point is represented by the interlude “A Path to Salvation”, and while this intermittent track is just over a minute in length, it is positively brimming with substance. Moody guitars and a subtle symphonic arrangement give way to a metalcore climax reminiscent of something Born of Osiris might’ve conjured up sometime in the mid-2010s. This track transitions seamlessly into “I, Apostate”, which stands tall as one of my top cuts from this LP. “A Path to Salvation” should be used as a window for the listener to fasten their seatbelts, as “I, Apostate” sees Hoover unleash his most animalistic vocal delivery to date. With an emphasis on wailing black metal vocals, this four-and-a-half-minute piece sees Hoover standing tall next to other notable high screamers such as Eddie Hermida and Dan Watson, whilst not letting up on his signature mid-range growl in what is possibly the most unique breakdown I’ve heard in a while. Three quarters into this deathcore opus, it is safe to say that without Ricky Hoover and his absolutely stellar vocal performances, I would not have had the same level of engagement that I did throughout my many listens of The Burden ov Faith.
“Wide Open” features Howard Jones, formerly of Killswitch Engage and currently of Light the Torch and SION, which is a feature that even in my wildest dreams I’m not sure I’d be able to come to terms with. Nevertheless, it’s happened, and its execution is just as great as one might imagine. Containing an expansive arsenal of his signature heartfelt screams and impressive falsettos, Jones provides a strong contrast in harmony with Hoover. Penultimate track “The Inglorious Archetype” places more of an emphasis on clean vocals than other cuts from the record, as Hoover’s cleans can be observed throughout the structure of the track as opposed to just being confined to its chorus. This segways into the album’s titular closer, where not one, but two guests make vocal contributions. Canada’s Lindsay Schoolcraft provides a haunting, operatic performance in the introductory phases of the track, while Kyle Medina of Bodysnatcher closes the track with a deathcore vocal assault atop a colossal, ultimate breakdown that sends The Burden ov Faith off in the most memorable way possible.
Ov Sulfur have outdone themselves in every aspect with The Burden ov Faith. Easily the strongest debut LP I’ve heard in years, this is a band the deathcore community needs to keep tabs on. Judging by the improvement between Oblivion and the magnum opus we now have before us, Ov Sulfur are poised to be one of deathcore’s finest acts of the 2020s, standing shoulder to shoulder among giants such as Lorna Shore and Fit for an Autopsy. Do not let this group elude you as they did me.
9.5/10
The Burden ov Faith is out this Friday via Century Media Records, and can be pre-ordered here.