There are times when musicians become confused in the relationship between what they want to do and how it must sound. This is the way that many love to create definitions, to tell the others what is the right way, when there isn't such a thing. The bands can have excellent results using their own conscience. And even following the model of "crude and filthy", the Black/Death Metal act FUNERAL HEARSE, a one-man band from Singapore, made a good work on "In Devotion of...", the band's first album.

Heavily influenced by bands as SARCÓFAGO, BEHERIT and BLASPHEMY, the band's main way is into an Old School Black/Death Metal that will bring the mind of the listener travel back to the beginning of the 90's. The musical work is really very good, with songs showing impact, energy and aggressiveness in a way that is personal, even when tempos are slow ("In Worship of the Divine" is a fine example of this aspect).

The album's problem resides solely on the sound quality. It can be traced if it was done in such way due the lack of proper conditions or it was an influence due the results shown on the production of albums as "Drawing Down the Moon", "I.N.R.I." or "Gods of War". It's truly a problem when only guitars can be understood (that what is on "Into the Eye of the Serpent") but improves during the album. It's not so bad but isn't the best result for such good musical work.

The band is pretty good, as "Burning Ambers from a Funeral Pyre" (very good funereal ambiance and sharp guitar riffs), "In Worship of the Divine" (a very good song, but the sound quality is crude in a way that is beyond the needed, besides the rhythmic work can be understood), "Cleansing a Damned Soul" (very good nasty vocals that are between the guttural grunts and normal harsh tunes), and "Alternate State of Consciousness" (very good rhythmic changes and guitars) are showing, they're excellent songs, but a better sound quality would make them even better.

FUNERAL HEARSE is really a promising name, but a better sound quality for the future is required. For now, "In Devotion of..." is a good album that could be way better...