By: Chris Bull
Date Released: 12/2015
Label: War Crime Recordings
After the squeals of feedback, the chords, drums and vocals kick in simultaneously with the force of a boot to the face. A trance like middle section battens down the hatches and prepares for the eventual destructive storm that soon develops. You're left feeling like a survivor from the Titanic; battered and bruised but thankful to be alive to tell the tale. This record is absolutely essential for fans of crushing doom
‘Migration’ LP track listing:
1). Untitled (I)
2). Untitled (II)
3) Untitled (III)
Buried at Sea is
Bill Daniel | Drums
Jason Depew | Guitars
Brian Sowell | Bass, vocals
Sanford Parker | Guitars, vocals
The Review:
If I was asked to use 3 words to describe Buried At Sea I would say 'REALLY FUCKING HEAVY' because Sandford Parker and Co really are heavier than you. 'Migration' was released in 2003 and perforated eardrums on its initial release. Now reissued through Parker's own War Crime Recordings for the first time on vinyl, it's a chance for those who missed the boat (a maritime warship in this case) to get on it and sink with it.
'Untitled I' which is a reworking of 'Man In Search Of the Perfect Weapon' from their 2002 demo, attacks the senses from all angles. After the squeals of feedback, the chords, drums and vocals kick in simultaneously with the force of a boot to the face. A trance like middle section battens down the hatches and prepares for the eventual destructive storm that soon develops. It builds and builds before cutting out to let some sound effects creep in, then it's all hands on deck as the riff from the aforementioned demo song rears its colossal brow from the murky depths.
Some wintry wind noises bridge the gap between that and 'Untitled II' before its bone crushing guitar sound saws through with the doomiest riff on the album. A fragment of a post metal riff is played before it gets ridiculously heavy again and I'm beginning to wonder what I've done to deserve such a level of sonic punishment. The song goes through several transformations before settling on a hammer and nails doom. 'Untitled III' was called 'The Aquanaut' on the demo and is the song I've listened to the most by BAS. Building from a brooding melodic guitar riff, the track gathers momentum before cutting out and another bludgeoning riff takes hold.
Vocals from Parker and bassist Brian Sowell work in tandem and to devastating effect, occupying slightly different frequencies with their screams. Even when they split the vocal duties they still sound devastating. After a run of riff and hammer, it's over. You're left feeling like a survivor from the Titanic; battered and bruised but thankful to be alive to tell the tale.
This record is absolutely essential for fans of crushing doom. If you have this digitally or on CD, now’s your chance to hear it in its rawest form. Hipster doomsters beware; abandon ship, this is the real DOOM.
