OSSUARY - Cremation Ritual (12" MLP)

Ossuary emerges from the dark corners of Wisconsin's underground music scene, wielding a brand of death metal that delves into the very depths of doom. With an unmistakable touch of black metal in their vocals, it's as if a banshee's wail chases you through a decaying forest, shrieking for your soul.

In their debut demo, Ossuary opts for an unrelenting, slow-burning approach that never races into faster territories. They firmly plant themselves in fetid grooves reminiscent of Autopsy's "Mental Funeral." The tracks traverse a landscape of lethargic lurches, moving from slow, eerie tremolos to headbang-inducing, bone-crushing riffs that are brilliantly dumb in their heaviness.

The production quality on this tape stands out as a defining feature, playing perfectly to the band's strengths. Rawness defines the sound, almost to an extreme. While the bass occasionally gets lost in the dense mix, blending with the vocals, guitars, and drums, it's a minor quibble when compared to the overall soundscape. Every other element revels in the murk and reverb, creating an abyssal atmosphere that's nothing short of captivating.