Review by Fernando on July 6, 2022.

From the blasphemous wellspring of extreme metal that Portland, Oregon seems to be turning into, we have the abominable Triumvir Foul, who after five years unleash their newest (and supposedly their last) full length titled Onslaught To Seraphim through Vrasubatlat and Invictus Productions.

Triumvir Foul certainly play filthy and blasphemous death metal but they’ve also displayed a technicality and a strong sense of atmosphere that not many other bands in this style play, or rather, they give it their own spin. Specifically for Triumvir Foul, however, they’re masters of balancing fast and pounding speed with overwhelming and lumbering midpaces seamlessly and on this third opus they’ve refined that mastery to absolute perfection. Onslaught To Seraphim is an experience like no other and is by far the band’s most accomplished record yet, not only expanding their style of wretched death metal, but also pushing their extremity to its nadir. On top of that, the band managed to pack quiet the burst of pure extreme metal in a surprisingly short amount of time, so that makes the record much more compact than previous records, and also displaying a tighter focus in short songs that are each substantial. Furthermore, this more focused approach is not only present in the songwriting, but the pacing; at under 35 minutes the record is as long as it needs to, and it's never boring nor does it drag.

My only main critique is that the short length can also make the album fly by very quickly, which isn’t a “bad” thing, but if this is the band’s final album, then they ended things leaving me wanting more. Granted there’s 2 other records I can check out, but still. However I do have to praise Triumvir Foul for wanting this record to have as high an impact as possible, regardless of length.

In regards to more specifics, the fact that such unrelenting death metal is the handiwork of two people is astounding. They have such tight chemistry, all instruments work in perfect unison, and yet, members Ad Infinitum and Cedentibus still manage to flex their technicals skills, the latter being the major standout on drums. It's his fills and beats that enhance the seamless transition between the blistering speed and lurching mid pace, and that’s not to downplay the skills of the former, Ad Infinitum’s vocals and strings are the commandeering force in the record. His riffs, bass lines and especially his demonic vocals are certainly what gives Triumvir Foul its unique aspect, and again, both he and Cedentibus are in complete sync in their flexing. And another very appreciated aspect of the instrumentation is how the band incorporates ambiance to close off or open songs. The subtle yet effective use of what seems like synths and effects give the songs not just atmosphere but also depth, and like everything else, it jells excellently and organically.

Overall, while I would’ve liked Triumvir Foul’s final chapter to be a bit longer (maybe one 7 to 8 minute song). Also, how they're taking their bow is not only as good as their previous works, but it’s easily their best in both technicality and execution. Sad to see them go, but glad they were here anyway.

Best tracks: 'Flesh Diocese', 'Bašmu Enthralled', 'Horned Creations', 'Slither Of Corruption (The Demise Of The Three Serpents)', 'Onslaught To Seraphim'

Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Review by chrisc7249 on June 22, 2022.

Everytime a new band comes along and changes the landscape of its genre, there is, unsurprisingly, a flurry of bands that flock to the studios to put their own spin on this newly introduced formula. There is, of course, nothing wrong with this - in death metal specifically, it's a nice refresher from the countless bands that try to sound like Entombed and Dismember, all while never even holding a candle to the amazing works of those two. The band in question is, of course, the newly introduced Blood Incantation that has taken the death metal world by storm, and with good reason. The best way to describe their sound in one simple sentence, is to imagine what death metal would sound like if you took a little sprinkle of every one of its subgenres and put them all into one well-crafted package. Because of this newfound sound, it should come as no surprise that since their 2016 debut, a number of bands have all tried the same formula, and with great success. Burial Invocation, Warp Chamber, Cosmic Putrefaction, and many others I'm sure I haven't heard or have forgotten about. However, one of the names that does not get enough recognition with their newest album, Faceless Burial, may have just outdone their contemporaries by a great margin.

"Speciation" is a chaotic mix of a number of bands, a putrid cacophony that brings to mind genre stalwarts and underground legends such as Gorguts, Suffocation, Incantation, StarGazer, Demilich, Opeth, Death, and even The Black Dahlia Murder. Yes, the influences are that expansive, even if the band didn't directly incorporate these influences into their music. It destroys everything in its path with a menacing compilation of death and progressive metal riffs, intertwined with a tight and heavy production that suffocates the listener. But, don't be alarmed, this isn't some noodly bullshit (though I love that stuff too), these are genuine technical riffs that don't overwhelm you with "bro look at how many time signature changes I do!" It's a progressive edge that aids the cavernous and bludgeoning death metal that acts as a foundation for the technicality to shine.

The songs are very well structured, never becoming too repetitive or straying too far off from the core of the music to the point where it ends up meandering. The solos are meaningful and aren't just walls of noise, and often elevate the music to a new level whenever they come on. The dissonant riffs that remind heavily of "From Wisdom to Hate" era Gorguts are some of the best on the album. It's rare to hear bands incorporate riffs of this style in a listenable fashion that's easy to pick up on after just one or two listens instead of five or six. And that's what's great about this album; not only is there a little bit of something for all types of death metal lovers, but it's all packaged neatly into an easily digestible format that even people just getting into the genre can find themselves enjoying. You don't need to be an expert in the genre to enjoy it, but it also doesn't just appeal to newbies and has things for seasoned veterans to appreciate. A strikingly perfect balance that so few bands have managed to achieve in the 30+ years of death metal.

I must say the only downside of this album is that the vocals are plain, boring and don't mix with the music much at all. They're low as shit, but they don't really do much more than be background noise. They could have definitely been better than this, but it's not doing much for me the way it is now.

"Speciation" is one of the finest slabs of death metal to be released in 2020. In a year filled with a bunch of unsung gems, it would seem Faceless Burial sits atop them all. It's catchy, heavy, technical when it needs to be, groovy when the time is right and hooks you in almost instantly with its precise musicianship and relentlessly heavy riffs. As stated above, there's a little something for every type of death metal fan, and it's just an all around great album that will succumb the listener into its dark atmosphere. A furious combination of melody and brutality that is often left out in modern death metal.

FFO: Burial Invocation, Blood Incantation, Warp Chamber

Favorite song: Worship

Rating: 9 out of 10