Review: “Self Titled” by Funeral

Mixed and mastered by Will Killingsworth (Violent Way, Infiltrator, Sundrowner) at Dead Air Studios in Massachusetts, Funeral is the self titled record from group of scene veterans hailing from the city of Lima in Peru. Sonically they have forged a sound that combines Black Metal, Hardcore Punk and Death Rock in time honoured fashion but lyrically there is more of a twist in the tale. Exploring a bleak existence in all its misery is one thing but confronting death as an inevitable fate? Rage, despair and self destruction are all on the cards so be warned, something wicked this way comes…

Raw and lethally effective “Bala Perdida” (or “Stray Bullet“) flies out of the gate like Satan’s hell hound in search of fresh blood with caustic screams in cavernous Black Metal and Horror Punk bass lines. The barbed riffs and punishing percussion create a sonic storm with vocals in Spanish, the well executed tempo shifts making this seriously good fun. By the time second cut “Averno” (or “Avernus“) gets going, it’s clear that the band have a death grip on the sound they want to create, the racing riffs and speed freak drums ensuring this one is a savage beating with flavours of bands like Devilmaster, Dawn of Humans and even G.I.S.M.. Some might argue that their bark is worse than their bite but will they risk rabies to find out?

There is some melody to the riffs of “Almas en el Abismo” (or “Soul In The Abyss“) which helps turn it into something of an earworm and while they are relatively primitive and raw with an old school demo quality to them that doesn’t stop them from being infectious. There is some kind of echo effect on this one which makes the vocals sound more cavernous and there are points when you can just picture the band bursting into a Black Metal infused rendition of something by the Sex Pistols.

Opening with a glorious pick slide “Tumbas Vacias” (or “Empty Tombs“) takes us back to early Wednesday 13 with creepy bass lines and eerie melodic riffs, the demonic screamed Black Metal vocals chemically enhanced by the gang chant style backing vocals. It’s like the band are trapped in a basement torture chamber hell and their performance is all that can help them escape their demise with blasts of energy and chorus soaked guitars.

Almost tribal drum patterns that introduce “Enterrado” (or “Buried“) before making way for more violent turbulence, harsh whispers in the perpetual darkness turning to feral screams as the band get you into a headlock and charge into oncoming traffic. If you’re not wearing a bullet belt and a battle jacket then they’re coming for your soul with these dark melodies, the evil laughter of the final moments exactly what the edge of the seat was made for [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Bala Perdida
2. Averno
3. Almas en el Abismo
4. Tumbas Vacias
5. Enterrado

“Self Titled” by Funeral is out 25th September 2026 via Black Legion Records and Caligari Records.