I kind of miss the old Burial in the Sky logo. It had a sleek elegance and regal-ness to it. It reminded me of something out of ancient Egypt, as it resembled, to my mind at least, the profile of a scarab beetle when viewed from above.
Their new logo suits them, though, as does the sound of their new album, The Consumed Self. The new logo is sharp, jagged, and thorny like the root system of a tree with venomous sap. Similarly, Burial In The Sky’s sound has only become more organic and twisted since their 2018 release Creatio et Hominus. It’s quite the feat to witness, especially because of how genuinely technical their material is.
One of the more unique aspects of Burial in the Sky has always been their sax player and bass guitarist Zach Strouse, whose staccato melodies keep remarkable time with the angular and incongruous musicians of his bandmates. Zach pulls double duty as a sax player in Rivers Of Nihil, and his contribution to that group’s dynamics is also exceptional.
But what really helps to bring together The Consumed Self is the tri-vocal coordination between of Strouse, guitarist Brad Hettinger, and lead vocalist Jorel Hart, whose talents combine to sound like a cohort of moribund soothsayers, enumerating the trials of humanity’s inevitable fate.
Early numbers like “An Orphaned City,” with its dancing rhythms, breath-stealing tempo changes, and lonesome atmospheric and sax-attended bridge certainly demonstrate the band’s prowess and mastery, but it isn’t until later that they truly display their growth and potential. The double KO of ” Mountains Pt.1: To Ascend” and “Mountains Pt.2: Empathy” in the second half feels like a mini-album in itself, with all the moods and transformations, both sonic and psychic, it passes through.
On The Consumed Self, Burial In The Sky have more than conquered and devoured the expectations set by the previous releases. In vanquishing all fetters on their ascent, there is no telling how high they will rise.
Buy and stream The Consumed Self via Bandcamp below:
Buy The Consumed Self on vinyl and CD from Rising Nemesis Records here.
