UNBURIED / SEEKING OBSCURE split CD 2006 review

UNBURIED (US) / SEEKING OBSCURE (US) – S/T
Split CD 2006 – Metalbolic Records
8 tracks – 25’36
Rated: 5/10 – 6/10
UNBURIED is a two-person project featuring Matt Pike and Mark Riddick (known for his decaying activities such as drawings (www.riddickbros.com). These guys also have a common passion for extreme putrefied metal or if you prefer basic death metal, rather old school oriented with a homemade production. They played all instruments except drums which are programmed but they are close to a real drums sound and aren’t too much put forward. UNBURIED has also a very sharp guitar sound (maybe a bit too fuzzy for me), close to the early records of DEICIDE to give you an idea. However, UNBURIED is more old school brutal death metal influenced, very heavy with some slamming parts sometimes, they remind me a bit of WITHERED EARTH. Despite some obvious carnivorous intentions, UNBURIED has to improve the songwriting to regurgitate more digested tracks.
SEEKING OBSCURE, well the moniker fits quite well, coz the music has a certain dark mood, probably due to this muffled production that takes away the impact of this one-man death/thrash metal project. Apart from this point Rob’s mixture of thrashy riffs à la SLAYER with old DYING FETUS (the very early stuff) is quite entertaining though it won’t stick our numerous musical downloaders to their screen as it’s probably too outdated for them. SEEKING OBSCURE sometimes try to inject some atmospheres with keyboards (reminding ACHERON), but that’s never corny. Big up to the guitar solos which are killer and bring really something to the music, let’s say a heavy metal touch (probably because of this CANCER coversong “Die, die!”).
Both UNBURIED and SEEKING OBSCURE play in the mid 90’s influenced death metal: UNBURIED is quite traditional although SEEKING OBSCURE is a bit more adventurous.
Contact: UNBURIED – 849 Sundance mountain road – NEW MARKET VA 22844 – USA
SEEKING OBSCURE – PO Box 344 – Sheridan WY 82801 – USA
unburiedband@yahoo.com seekingobscure@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/unburieddeathmetal
http://www.myspace.com/seekingobscure