EP REVIEW: Eternal – Bound In Fear

To stand out in the extreme metal scene you need to be on the top of your game, providing something refreshing and exciting rather than depending on just being ridiculously heavy. BOUND IN FEAR have managed to carve themselves a way into the spotlight with their fearless approach and are hoping to build on this with their latest devastating effort in the form of Eternal via Unique Leader Records. Are you sitting comfortably? Soon you won’t be.

Cardinal Sin comes charging into focus like a rampaging bull and you are the unlucky soul who is holding the red rag. Ferocious vocal work sent from the depths of hell combines with monstrous riffing that leaves your blood curdling in your veins. Swarming atmospherics assist in setting an immediately unnerving tone. Left To Drown sustains the devastatingly heavy riffing that belligerently stomps wherever it sees fit. Neck snapping grooves are injected into the track as it takes a sudden hike in tempo, demanding that you bang your head or face fatal consequences.

My Mind, My Prison launches a barrage of guttural carnage right into your ear canals with a distinct lack of remorse for your safety. Filthy riffs and punishing drum work join forces to send a seismic wave down your spine. Just as you have succumbed to the beating there are some instances of melody which seep through the mix to give you a slight glimpse of optimism. Everblack soon knocks that straight back out of you by grabbing you by the throat and throttling you with a barbaric onslaught of down-tuned, discordant destruction. What soon follows is some utterly addictive riffing that lures you to your doom like a demonic siren. The Harrowing has zero intention of letting what remains of your battered corpse to escape its gaze as it gears up for one final volley of intense brutality. The vocal work would have Satan quivering in his boots as it once more combines with skull jarring riffing and impactful drum segments, mercilessly leaving you in its wake.

Eternal is the perfect portion of chaos that leaves you reeling rather than overstaying its welcome. Whilst hammering your senses into oblivion it also possesses a plethora of poignant messages beneath the insanity which shows the depth and intelligence that BOUND IN FEAR instil into their relentless offering. If you like your music downright disgusting in the best possible way then this certainly deserves a place amongst your collection.

Rating: 9/10

Eternal is out now via Unique Leader Records.

Like BOUND IN FEAR on Facebook.