From Bandcamp, “Rising from the depths of Cleveland, Ohio, BURIAL OATH began as a burgeoning trio, consisting of JV, D and Sean Deth.  Five years later, they are back with a refreshed line-up, adding MOR GRISH and R to the fold, and are ready to share their new album, “The Cycles of Suffering,” this time, with the help of Redefining Darkness Records. The album has seven songs, and “Void Hunter” is first. The sound out of the gate is dark, contentious, and thick with guitars, drums, and vocals, and it’s equal parts of aggression and depression. “Deathbringer” is even more aggressive, and somber tones mix into the stew of contentiousness that they band is stirring. The title track begins with a slow, somber sound, and they band paints a landscape of regret, pain, and even death.

The riff is dark and aggressive once again, and they band has found an ideal balance between the two. “Howling Promethean Winds” has a steadier groove to it as well as some backing vocal choirs. From there, the winds rise and howl violently, threating to bring down the mountain. “Shadows Suspended in Dust” goes deeper and darker, winding through the very pit of Hell. There is also a melancholic passage, which affirms a strong sense of hopelessness. “Pagan Fires” is another strong combination of aggressive vocals with depressive guitars, and the guitars and drums work together in unison, but the bass is buried in the mix.

 “Kingdom of Fire” closes the album, and a punishing riff comes out of the gates, combined with Black Metal screams. Overall, this was a solid album that pushed notes of punishment with notes of hopelessness in equal doses. It is a traditional album in the sense of the origins of the genre, but it also had modern elements.