Under The Church - Total Burial

Under The Church

Total Burial

by Ricardo Casagrande at 15 February 2022, 12:44 PM

UNDER THE CHURCH is a Swedish death metal band formed in 2012 by members of NIRVANA 2002, Lars Henriksson and Erik Qvick. They released their first demo in 2013 and an EP in 2014. Shortly after in 2015 they released the groups first full length project Rabid Armageddon, and received great reviews in Sweden and the underground metal scene. After releasing a single in 2016, the band had a busy 2017 with a live album and eventually a second full length album Supernatural Punishment. Now they have returned in 2021 with their latest offering Total Burial.

The EP starts off with “Day of Reckoning” and does not hold back, blasting drums and chainsaw guitars are at the forefront for the first half before giving way to a nice guitar solo and a more timid chunky riff. The vocals are fitting for the speed and all around sound and delivered with fury and power by Erik S. This song is furious from beginning to end and is a great opening track. Next up is “Spit on Your Grave” and picks up right where the opener left off, with intense guitar work, with no shortage of great riffs in this song, it is driven by the force of the guitars. The vocals are sounded off to match the guitars and tempo of this song and most of the tracks, and is not always easy to do, but is on point with this EP.

“Total Burial” offers up a bone shaking bass that can be felt throughout the song and carries the rhythm with riffs galore. The song works well with creating hysteria and franticness, that with a screeching solo and powerful drums, has you feeding off the energy by the time that it is over. The EP finishes off with the track “Just Another Death” and carries the same vicious energy as the tracks leading up to it. With more blasts on drums and breathless delivery of the vocals, this song has a more thrash metal feeling to it then on other tracks. It once again offers up furious guitar riffs and screeching solo’s that complement the demonically raspy vocals.

There seems to be no shortage of guitar riffs and some impressive drumming on the EP, even though it is only five tracks. The vocals are in your face and feed off the band with ease, and bring another layer of intensity to the tracks. The EP could use some variation to the formation of the tracks in my opinion, as they seem to blend together with the same recipe of frantic guitars, tempo reduced chunky riffs, and screeching solos, that could just seem to be due to the fact that it is indeed an EP. But all in all it is presented well and should be well received by those that enjoy their metal with a heaping layer of death.

Songwriting: 6
Musicianship: 7
Memorability: 6
Production: 7