First album for Infernal Crown‘s ninth anniversary.
Comprising Rayman (bass), Void (drums), Stranger (guitar), März (vocals) and Shvgazer (guitar), the German band ends 2024 with the release of Buried in Darkness.
A hint of airy melancholy reaches us with Concrete Graves, but it’s quickly overshadowed by saturation and morbid vocal parts, retaining its soaring touch at a fairly moderate pace. The dissonance flares up to become more aggressive, but the break takes us back to the clean tones before becoming more imposing again and leading us to Cherophobia, which kicks off immediately with a more raw, rhythmic approach. The almost martial drums contrast with the hypnotic guitars and their heady leads, while the vocals remain rather heavy, finally reaching their climax before giving way to Fire in our Veins, and its introductory quietude that gradually becomes heavier and heavier, albeit rather slow. The strings bring a more energetic dimension to this haunting track, which marks a significant pause before an explosion of rage that tints the rest of the piece with a dark veil, joining New God where gentleness greets us. A few more intense moments await us on this walk through the mist in the company of the musicians, generally more majestic, but also a wilder one that marks the arrival of Desecration of Idols where an Old School touch is easily observable. Melodies hover over the energetic base, which slows down once more before giving way to fury before Aderlass follows suit, while quickly proposing more energetic patterns. The catchy, jerky riffs follow one another, fading away to let the solo bewitch us, but leaving again at their usual speed before Im Land der Toten closes the album between ominous tones and German lyrics, giving a slightly different mix from the rest of their creations, but one that fits perfectly with their musical personality, sometimes more brutal and uncompromising.
I discovered Infernal Crown with this album, and I like what I find. Somewhere between unhealthy Black and aggressive Death, Buried in Darkness knows how to draw the best from both styles to offer coherent compositions, as much in darkness as in strength.
85/100