We Should Be Buried like This
Genealogy of Melodic Fury
The sound of Bloodred Hourglass has always felt like watching time fracture through glass, riffs and melodies bleeding together, carrying both pain and beauty. They are a Finnish band that has carved their path in a territory where melody and brutality often intertwine with equal intensity. With this album, it feels as though they decided to condense decades of evolution into something that isn’t just another record, but a renewed statement of identity.
Pressing Play: Pressure and Resistance
When 'The Crown Is Permanent' hits my headphones, I feel a surge of controlled energy: a steady drumbeat, guitars alternating between aggressive slashes and cutting harmonies. The sequence up to We Should Be Buried Like This keeps that relentless pace, the album leaves no room for distraction. The connection between weight and melody is present from the first chord, and even the passages that briefly breathe in atmosphere never lose their sense of urgency.
Flow, Contrast, and Sonic Identity
The album flows well from start to finish, with a clear sense of identity, but also subtle variations that keep monotony away. For example, 'Royally Done' offers softer moments and subtle female vocals that smooth things out without weakening the power, built as counterpoints. 'God Has Favourites' earns praise for its 'post-metal' dynamics, where the sound drops only to return with textured violence. Mirage uses guest appearances and shifts in intensity to multiply its layers. And the closing track, 'Vividus', leaves a final weight that echoes like traces left behind.
Radiant Highlights and Lingering Shadows
Among the moments that stood out to me are 'Chasing Shadows', whose chorus lingers in your mind long after listening, and 'Dance of the Dandelions', with its incendiary refrain contrasting against cutting vocals. The collaborations on 'Mirage' and 'Royally Done' also shine: the blend of female or clean vocals with the heavier foundation adds texture and freshness.
My Immersion in Sound and Shadow
We Should Be Buried Like This caught me by surprise, not because it’s revolutionary, but because it feels like a denser, more focused version of what I already expected from Bloodred Hourglass. It’s not an album to listen to casually: it demands that you dive into its dark harmonies, its contrasts, and its tense transitions.
I see this record as a high point in the band’s discography: they don’t renounce their past but build upon it with maturity, experimenting, bringing in guests, using electronic textures, and blending aggression with subtlety. It may not be flawless in every respect, there’s room for expectation but it’s precisely its strength, cohesion, and sonic ambition that make it stand out. If you’re looking for a modern metal album that balances brutality with melody and emotion, this is one that leaves you wanting to hit play again.
