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Every once in a while you come across bands that play the genres they are based out of perfectly, while adding elements that make your listening experience better. I feel the need to say every time I talk about Black Metal that I love Death Metal; it is usually one of the subgenres of metal I stay away from. Lately I have been allowing myself to listen to different genres and see them with an open mind. Bound By Entrails is a band that is based out of Anchorage, Alaska. Truly a state made for Black Metal; everything from the intense winters to the months of darkness. Well, now Bound By Entrails is really a band that caught me off guard as they play a style of Black Metal that relies heavily on the backing of the symphonics to complement their sound.

This is Black Metal produced perfectly. One of my large turn-offs to the genre is the notoriously raw production. The sound is perfect as it is in no way crystal clear but every instrument can be heard perfectly, and with just the right amount of muddiness. The symphonics are played throughout every song; combined with eerie intros and the riffing, the feel of the album is very dark. The drums are proficient and make the riffing better with the use of common beats to blast beats. Along with everything else the vocals are great, they are just as important as the symphonics to the overall sound. It is very easy to get lost in the album because of the mood it draws; a dark and gloomy atmosphere sets out to grab the listener and put you in a daze. Everything about this release is similar to Emperor. This of course leads the band to include a cover of Inno A Satana. The cover almost sounds like Emperor is playing the song even though it is nearly a minute shorter. It is played spot on and with the special touches of the production it sounds very good. It's good in its own right, but I still of course prefer the original. Then we round out the album with a live track of their own. I think witnessing the song would give me a better understanding of the track, but as heard here you can tell what the audience feels and how the atmosphere is live.

I was truthfully surprised while listening to The Oath to Forbear and the Burden of Inheritance. I didn't know what to expect as I had not heard the band before. Having now listened I am interested in hearing previous outputs and ones later on down the road. Bound By Entrails play an exceptional style of Symphonic Black Metal, and coming from a truly gloomy and dark place it only enhances the actuality of their sound.