Burning Death - Self Titled

The record runs a lean twenty nine minutes, and its economy is one of its strengths. Songs erupt quick, circle a central riff idea, then vanish without indulgence. The guitar work favors mid tempo to fast patterns indebted to early Slayer, Sodom, and Kreator, with occasional melodic turns that recall Sabbat’s sword heavy theatrics. Solos are sharp and functional, never overstaying their welcome. Gore’s drumming keeps everything moving forward with complete disciplined urgency.

Vocally, Rock operates in a narrow but effective range, switching between barked commands and higher strained screams. The performance reinforces the album’s antagonistic tone without drifting into something parody like. Lyrically, the fixation on anti Christian violence is absolute and unambiguous, functioning as adherence to a long established aesthetic code.

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Where Burning Death falters is distinction. The album succeeds by executing a known language fluently, but it seldom bends that language into new shapes. Some tracks blur together, and while individual riffs hit with conviction, few linger after the record ends. The production, gritty and uncluttered, supports the material but offers little dynamic depth, leaving the listening experience just a little flat.

Burning Death is not reinventing thrash, nor does it attempt to do so. It is a competent, aggressive homage that prioritizes discipline over risk. For listeners invested in the preservation of thrash’s harsher traditions, it delivers exactly what it promises, nothing more and nothing less.

Definately for those old school thrash legends.

Give it a few spins for full effect.

7.5/10

Words by Leantwoexist

In collaboration with Headbangers Australia