If I told you a band was getting spoken of and hyped in the same sentence as groups like Lorna Shore
and Whitechapel with only an EP and a handful of singles to their name, you might be suspicious.
However, you can set those concerns aside and throw your fists wildly until they move to the edge of
the pit when you hear Ov Sulfur out of Las Vegas, Nevada.
With their debut full length, The Burden Ov Faith, set to arrive March 24th, Ov Sulfur has already started
making a name for themselves touring with the likes of the aforementioned bands as well as Shadow of
Intent and Signs of the Swarm. Fronted by Ricky Hoover, formerly of Suffokate, Ov Sulfur has managed
to capture the fascination of the deathcore scene with a unique blend of genres. They have been
referred to as blackened deathcore, and although fitting, after listening to The Burden Ov Faith, I don’t
think that fully encapsulates their entire sound.
Ov Sulfur takes elements from deathcore, metalcore, and symphonic black metal, and seamlessly
weaves them through their sound. Throughout The Burden Ov Faith, you can hear the various elements
of their DNA, catching glimpses of early Whitechapel blending into the melody, reminiscent of Dimmu
Borgir, and then you are briefly taken aback by Hoover’s clean vocals after just hearing him belt out
guttural lows and filthy screams. Not to mention, throughout the album you are getting some amazing
guitar and work, and drumming Nick Barker would be impressed with.
The production is about what you would expect from a band like Ov Sulfur and their peers. It’s very
clean, very precise, and has a lot of elements in common with other deathcore albums. You know, fade
ins to breakdowns and such. Although common to the genre, they manage to make these production
flourishes feel natural to the songs and not an obligation to the genre.
At this point you might already be opening another browser window to preorder The Burden Ov Faith,
but there is more you should know to really seal the deal. Set aside the wide range of vocals, the
impressive guitar solos, thundering bass and drums, and the well-placed symphonic melodies. This
album also features some big names in metal lending their voices to a few tracks. They managed to snag
Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail, Taylor Barber of Left to Suffer, Howard Jones of Light the Torch (ex-
Killswitch Engage), Kyle Medina of Bodysnatcher, and Lindsay Schoolcraft (ex-Cradle of Filth). There
must be something good going on to get all these names throwing down vocal tracks for another band.
Overall, The Burden Ov Faith sounds enormous. It’s a powerful entry to a genre that has been expanding
and experimenting since the early 2000s. It’s brutal, melodic, symphonic, and just downright fun to
listen to. Each track makes you wonder what the next one will sound like, and Ov Sulfur manage to keep
you listening until the end with each track bringing something a little different to the table. Although I
can honestly say this album does not break any significantly new ground, it does sound fresh, unique,
and is absolutely bound to get you moving.
Overall Score: 8/10
Review by: Dan Perretta
