27th November 2023

Review: “Self Titled” by Buried Shallow

“We wanted to create something that people could relate to on a visceral level. This EP is not just about our experiences; it’s about the shared human experience of facing fears, confronting pain, and emerging stronger on the other side” ~ Charlie White, vocals

Having made a name for themselves in their native Perth, Western Australia with shows alongside Nicolas Cage Fighter and Xenobiotic, it seems that the underground can no longer contain Deathcore quintet Buried Shallow. Surpassing 17k of Spotify and YouTube streams for July released single “Paint With Pain“, they now set their sights on rising to prominence in the international scene with their self titled debut EP, a record that is heavy but also has a heart. Exploring lyrical themes of dark times and overcoming them by finding the strength within, there is a message behind this madness…

Sometimes it pays to expect the unexpected but forty five seconds of acoustic guitar and what sounds like it could be a confession maybe enough at the start of “Death Of Me” to throw a few Wolves off the scent before Buried Shallow get started. If it is then they’ll be the ones missing out as a bludgeoning Deathcore onslaught follows, chemically enhanced by eerie background noises and a few almost ethereal tones in a cut that harks back to the early days of the genre. That was when Death Metal met Hardcore down a dark alley with a baseball bat for a punishment beating that no one would ever forget and is echoed in “Swarm“. Conjoining crunchy riffs with incendiary energy and some blood gargling vocal moments, this sonic abrasion is the kind of thing that the edge of the seat was made for and while it may not be as polished as it could be, there is enough evidence here to suggest the band could go a long way. Buried Shallow have made no secret of the fact that they have roots in Nu-Metal and with “Schizofrantic” they offer up something with an introspective lyrical narrative combined with the aggression and groove of Nu-Metalcore. One with a broader appeal even with the caustic vocal performance, this maybe an indicator of the direction of travel or it might simply be a one off but either way it confirms that they have more in their bomb proof locker than endless chug. Saving the best until last, “Paint With Pain” shatters any illusion that the five piece aren’t here to stay with a perfectly executed “Bleigh!” moment and some more eerie background sounds giving this groove laden beast the killer instinct. A mosh pit floor filler of supreme quality, this one will probably re-surface on their debut album once a major label swoops down like a vulture to snap them up. The same can be said of “Suffer Unto Me“, another powerhouse statement piece that stands out from the pack like a hammer smashed thumb, the earworm main riff that feels like its from a low budget horror film giving it that elevation. Make no mistake, this is just the start… [7.5/10]

Track Listing