August 14, 2008 | | 3.5

The Funeral Pyre, Wounds

Since the release of their their last album in 2006, The Funeral Pyre have gone to great pains to modify their sound into something a little more blackened. Gone are the days of the band’s take on melodic death metal. Wounds sees the California group enter into a darker realm that has a much more black metal feel, but still retains the melodies of their previous works. While abandoning the keyboards and death metal may have left them with a simplified sound, The Funeral Pyre more than make up for it with quality song writing, musicianship and fury.

For this latest album the band brought brought in a second guitarist, as well. The addition adds greater depth to the band’s sound. One of the real stand outs for me on this disc are the drums. They are way out in front on the recording and rumble like the demonic hooves of the riders of the apocalypse. The higher end raspy vocals have plenty of emotion and power, and are the perfect tone for this sonic assault. The result is a simplified, yet full on black metal attack with melodious hooks and crushing blasts.

Thieves
The opening track starts off slowly and softly, but that’s merely a ploy to lull you into a false sense of security. Forty seconds into the song a brief scream introduces you to manic drumming and driving riffs. The vocals come in 20 seconds after that and the band continues to bludgeon you with bleak blasts and blackened rhythms. This is one hell of a way to open up an album.

Black Earth
“Black Earth” continues the rumbling march with memorable riffing and driving drum work. There is an underlying melancholic, yet bleak melody weaving in the dark backgrounds of this one. It’s another damned good track. The blasts at the two minute mark are pretty damned beastly. There’s also a nice slow down around the 2:50 mark that makes for a nice change up in the pace before the band shifts back into higher gears. The solo to end the song has a bleak, sorrowful feel and keeps with the overall tone of the track.

The Gathering Bones
This next one leads in with some melancholic and dark guitars before slower drums come in 20 seconds or so later. The drums explode at the one minute mark as the solemn guitar tones continue with the vocals. This one is an unrelenting, blackened bit of madness.

Wounds
The title track weighs in at nearly nine minutes, starting off with another bit of memorable, solemn guitar. Big, methodical drums come in around the one minute mark and thunder for a good 20 seconds before exploding into a flurry of blackened activity. The vocals come in at the same time and do their best to keep up with the manic drums. Layered vocals and a slick lead really add some incredible depth to the track just after the four minute mark. The Funeral Pyre end out the epic with about three minutes worth of desolate, reflective instrumentation.

These Ties That Bind
After the slower, distant end to “Wounds” the group jumps inverted cross first right into churning guitars and demonic rhythms. “These Ties That Bind” features some melodic elements, but for the most part is a straight forward, blackened metal ride through several tempo changes and slick hooks — and one hell of a duel lead section around the three minute mark.

Arches Of Existence
A nice bit of guitar work opens up this next song after the abrupt end to “These Ties That Bind.” Thirty seconds in, the group erupts into a dark fury with screamed vocals and more manic drum work. I love the guitar tones these guys are using throughout this album.

When The Light Ends
Pile driving drums and bleak riffing get “When the Light Ends” off to a brisk pace. The unrelenting drums and driving guitars give this one an unstoppable feel as it lays waste to humanity with it’s black message.

Devourer
I love the opening riff to this one as the frenetic drum work comes in. It’s evil as hell, but as a slick, melodic feel to it. Once the ferocious vocals come in, the riff shifts slightly to the background as the drums of Satan continue unabated. The track ends with a little guitar reverb.

Ghost Walker
The final track on Wounds starts off with light, melodic guitar work and restrained drumming that lasts fora bout 25 second before a bigger riff and heavier drums ramp up. The drums pick up in intensity around 1:20 followed by the vocals. The guitars are still pretty melancholic and solemn as the rhythms bludgeon. The guitar at the four minute mark before another explosion of activity is pretty slick. The track fades out slowly, ending the album with some white ambient noise.

~ ~ ~

This is one of those discs that really surprises you. I went into this one with unwarrented preconceptions regarding the music it held and ended up really getting into Wounds. The band’s shift in musical direction and energy really make this album one to listen to repeatedly.

Favorite Tracks:
All of them

Additional Notes:
N/A