8th March 2025

Review: “Infect and Replicate” by Buried

Citing influences as far apart as Black Sabbath, Pantera and Cannibal Corpse, a trio of former Fracture Point members are reunited in Buried. Hailing from Phoenix Arizona, the quartet formed in 2022 when former Fracture Point bassist Preston Wilson, who is also known for his work in Abhorrent Rebirth, started writing new material with guitarist Alex Valdés. Both seasoned veteran musicians, they formulated a sound that brought together elements of Doom, Thrash and Progressive Metal before inviting drummer Erik Scott and vocalist Ben Rosputni, formerly of Season Of Decay, to join them. After the waterfall release of three singles and with an EP waiting in the wings Scott exited stage left and has since been replaced by Joe Symons, creating a reunion and add a layer of depth to the bands already rich history…

For those not in the know, Fracture Point were a Death Thrash Groove operation running on themes of inner struggle, that had a run for a decade from 2002 to 2012, releasing a demo in “Hated Set Free” in 2005 and a full length “Inherit the Downfall” in 2008. Wilson and Symonds were founding members and part of the line up alongside Rosputni who released that first demo, the vocalist remaining with the band up until the end while the other two departed in 2006.

The Black Sabbath Stoner Sludge Doom Metal influence is evident from the very start of “Haunted” with a low and slow bassline fit for idle worship getting things started in style. However things aren’t as they might seem as the quartet play with tempo and texture to give the track a gracious rise and fall with Groove Metal orientated passages punching above their weight as fierce, gravelly vocals from Rosputni scrape the resin. There is even time for a more Traditional Heavy Metal lead passage with a funky bassline as the quartet have a little fun introducing themselves to an unsuspecting World, something which works surprising well and has a nice nostalgia to it. The brooding atmospheric comes home to roost with the introduction to “Loving You“, a cut which is reminiscent of Jesse Leach project Seamless in the riff department. Despite the title, it’s not a power ballad but a dark tale of a broken relationship told in screamed vocals with crushing riffs of verve and swagger, the musicianship of the band shinning through the black clouds overhead. “Loving you is like assisted suicide!” a final moment of madness that resonates before the riff complexities of “Tallies” dabble with something different. Whispered vocal moments and a rich melodic passage in the final third before a bright solo keep things lively and varied making this an absolute joy. There is a certain nostalgic appeal to the sound of Buried with a wealth of 90’s Groove Metal influences creeping into the songs in nuances with bands like Pissing Razors, “Deathless” era Throwdown and even Snot springing to mind when listening to their collected works. That gives them an instant appeal and makes this record abundantly listenable, while having a life of its own. Bringing the curtain down on this collection “No Saviors” has a couple of tasteful spoken word passages between caustic verses about everyone burning in the fires of hell in the end because no one is free from sin. What’s fantastic about this one is how is builds from a slow burn of dark and oppressive Doom Metal atmosphere through to blast beats in a blood and thunder grand finale [8/10]