Wounds (CD - 2008)

After messing quite liberally with elements of black, death, thrash, and even keyboard-enhanced goth and symphonic metal on their first two albums, Californian quintet the Funeral Pyre apparently saw the light -- or the dark, as it were -- during the production of their third opus, 2008's Wounds, emerging transformed into a full-fledged black metal band. In the process, most all of their once prevalent synthesizers were summarily ejected (along with the nice young lady responsible for playing them) and a second guitarist added, so that the only thing left smelling remotely like death metal (or any other kind of metal) was producer Erik Rutan, of Morbid Angel and Hate Eternal infamy. Obviously, this decisive change of direction may seem like bad news to fans who were perfectly happy with those previous albums and their more textured songwriting tableau, but it's great news for all those in unfailing league with Satan. And despite having seemingly limited their own creative options thus, fact is the Funeral Pyre still manage to inject a fair amount of deliciously despairing melodies and necessary tempo changes into their newfound black metal austerity. Therefore, although standout moments like "Black Earth," "These Ties That Bind," "Arches of Existence," and the gloriously somber title track can't offer quite as many genre-bending surprises as the band's previous work, they are also anything but too frantic, too hateful, too "AARRRGHHH!!!" all the time. Ultimately, the Funeral Pyre obviously has to evolve wherever its members' creative muse leads them, and even hardened cynics are likely to agree -- so long as they give Wounds half a chance -- that the band's talent shines on, largely undiminished, through even the blackest of metallic shrouds. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia minimize