FUNERAL PILE is a Blackened Death Metal band based in Germany. "Evoked in Flames" is the group's debut album, released independently on July 30, 2021.

The first thing that came to my mind as I was listening to this album was that there are some definite BEHEMOTH vibes going on. The riffs are plodding and dramatic, with an almost Doom-like flare. Ralf and Annike's guitar tones are razor-thin but not harsh, and Matthias' voice sounds quite a bit like that of Nergal.  There is no doubt that the songwriting on this album is impeccable, and the group knows how to create a dark atmosphere.

That being said, the production is pretty lacking. I know, it is part of the aesthetic of Black Metal, but I really wish the drums had more life. Besides, bands like CRADLE OF FILTH and DIMMU BORGIR set a precedent for better production in this style of music. Like it or not, the Metal community just does not accept the production style of early BURZUM and GORGOROTH anymore.

Still, the riffs are the main draw for me, and this album is full of them! Some of the main highlights from this record include the title track, with its dirge-like atmosphere and simple yet effective riffs; "Dead End Red Sand," which is one of the speedier numbers on this album; "King Cockroach vs. The Lizard Queen," which, aside from having a fantastic title, features some incredible thrashy moments and creative guitar harmonies; "Dead Horse Trail," which is a beautiful instrumental that compliments the track listing nicely without interrupting the flow of the album; and "Klondike (The White Silence)," which, surprisingly, features a dance like beat at the beginning that works really well, and is chock-full of haunting guitar layers that became stuck in my head very easily.

Overall, this is an excellent debut album. As I previously mentioned, the songwriting is fantastic and there are plenty of memorable moments here. Again, I do have to emphasize that I'm not a big fan of the production on this record, but I'm willing to look past it because I enjoyed the songs so much. Well done, FUNERAL PILE, and I look forward to your next release!