BURIED FAITH – BLACKENED SKIES, OPEN GRAVES
Label: Self-Released
Release Date: February 28th, 2025
If you’re a fan of old school, black, and thrash metal, allow me to introduce you to Boise’s own, Buried Faith. A mixture of deep-rooted thrash with a modern black metal flair. Buried Faith vocalist Hans Hilmer originally started building this project in 1988 in Germany. Now haunting out of Boise, Idaho where the metal scene is thriving, Hans recruited Aaron Crandall on guitars, Donny Martinez on Drums and Jason Emry, Bass guitar. Now with a complete lineup, they’re pleased to announce their first independently released album, Blackened Skies, Open Graves.
“Bloodstorm Rising” kicks you square in the chest, fast & furious guitars that climb & slide into the breakdowns then caps off the perfectly timed solo’s. That Bass line at 2:10…Ooooh Weee!! That’s sick! At this point my fists are flying in the air as the chant goes “Bloodstorm!” Brilliantly controlled and drawn-out screams into low guttural whispers. The experience of these musicians speaks volumes. These guys know how to write good thrash tunes designed for the pit at a local venue near you. Blast beats for days into layers of double bass cymbals and crashers.
Going into the band’s namesake titled song “Buried Faith” this track has me beaming back in the 90’s thrash metal scene where they have unknowingly resurrected in 2025 and hopefully beyond. Fast and furious, aggressive and sharp guitars. I love everything there is about this song, they make it sound so effortless. Audibly processing the complexity of the nook’s and crannies to all the layers without over-doing it is outstanding.
“Halls of the Wretched”. This song is absolutely a Headbanger’s delight. It’s got higher-pitched screams into low growls that catch you off guard. The guitar starts out in a frenzy that leads to an epic solo at 2:23 to 2:38. I really like the use of guitar and bass accents that go along with the same timing as the drums providing that rhythmic pulse. I love the use of the snare drum rolling heavy into double bass is glorious.
My favorite so far is the album title track, “Blackened Skies, Open Graves”. Thunderous crashes falling from the sky. Eyes wide open, fists to the air chanting. Are cartwheels allowed in the pit? Asking for a friend. Everything about this song exhumes black metal at its finest.
“Massive Aggression”, brings massive attitude and threatening vocals right out of the gates. Foot stomping, heart pounding, kicking ass and taking names, leave no survivors. Buried Faith is coming for you, throwing everything they have into your freaking face.
“Secrets of the Plague”, is a face melter and absolute banger, another favorite.
There is not a mediocre song on this album. Veteran musicianship from the old school days on full display. I can tell how carefully thought out this album was from start to finish. There are so many technical layers to every song, I wanted to take my time and process every one of the instruments individually. Hansi is a lifer and promoter in the thrash\black metal scene as he was there in 1980’s Germany, witnessing & sharing the stage with prolific trailblazers such as Kreator, Exodus, Sodom, King Diamond and Venom as well as so many others that helped pave the way and opened the doors for bands like BURIED FAITH. It makes me excited for the future and where they’ll go. I want all the kids and young adults out there who are thinking of putting together a band to know that your local music scene matters. Every band out there started in their local scene. Please support local music! Blackened Skies, Open Graves is something spectacular and I hope every single metalhead out there blares the crap out of this. If they’re coming to a venue near you, Do Not miss the show!!!
