UK death metal band UNBURIER has returned with their latest EP, As Time Awaits on February 27th 2026. Uncompromisingly vicious but performed with utmost precision, the band expands their sonic scope while honing the intensity that defined their previous releases. With their new drummer Kim Hughes joining the lineup, UNBURIER unleashes a perfect storm of fresh energy and renewed technicality, pushing their blend of old-school and modern death metal to new extremes. Known for raw ferocity and deft performances, UNBURIER sharpens their approach on this release with tighter songwriting, bigger hooks, and a more refined, punishing delivery.
The EP opens ominously with the intro of "Continuum", then charges onward into the depths and never lets up. Darkness prevails on "Continuum" with a groovy rhythm section and tastefully melodic guitar leads. Powerful mid-range vocals drive the song, occasionally layered with guttural growls to add depth and intensity. The melodies are underpinned with elegantly-phrased fretless bass lines and tight, progressive drumming. The track steadily builds momentum before hitting a breakdown that shifts the dynamics, leading into back-to-back solos that showcase the band’s musicianship. Lyrically, "Continuum" explores the collapse of rigid beliefs and the confusion that follows. It paints a picture of spiraling ideas and false guidance, revealing the emptiness behind so-called truths. The track dives into the tension between light and darkness, truth and deception, showing how we wrestle with meaning in a world full of contradictions. Dark, intense, and unflinching, it sets a tone of uneasy reflection and relentless questioning.
Next, kicking off with a section of torrential, arpeggiated dissonance, "Abyssal Uncertainty" quickly announces its brutality before diving into rapid, NECROPHAGIST-inspired riffing. The fretless bass weaves in and out of each riff, acting as the translator between the frantic guitars and precise drumming. Despite shifting meter and tempo, the song maintains a consistent feel and raw edge throughout, sonically illustrating the darkened narrative. It features the standout solo of the EP, utilizing the track's unyielding brutality as momentum into a soaring passage that showcases a more playful lead guitar style. "Abyssal Uncertainty" is the most lyrically-ambitious track of the EP, with nods to Camus, Lovecraft and other literary influences. The listener is invited to witness a trapped laborer's descent into madness, reflecting on and acknowledging the absurdity of his life and death. The struggles depicted here represent those of anyone who has been forced to devote themselves to someone else's greed, and the yearning for a world where we can each live in accordance with our own nature.
Finally, "Survive the Vermin" ends the EP with the appropriate blend of ferocity and spellbinding technicality. Vocalist and guitarist Ben Champion shows off a viscerally emotive vocal range, skillfully punctuating his mid-range snarls with screeching highs for maximum impact. Bassist Stan Mitchell and drummer Kim Hughes lay the foundation for the song's intensity with a punchy, driving rhythm section. Guitarist Blake Hibberd propels the momentum forward with a relentless barrage of twisting, turning, shredding leads. The lyrics of "Survive The Vermin" develop themes of purpose and identity on the EP through a first-person account of a cosmic, immortal warrior. Surrendering flesh for steel, the narrator struggles to detach themselves from the sensations they thought to have discarded. The lyrics ask if, when we give ourselves wholly to one purpose, it is worth sacrificing the simplicity of everyday life. Paying homage to sci-fi author Nate Crowley and absurdist philosophy, "Survive The Vermin" provides the most direct declaration of the themes behind the EP.
Newcomers to UNBURIER's realm of fury and technicality will find As Time Awaits to be a compelling introduction to the band's evolving sound, and longtime listeners will be proud to follow the band’s growth across their earlier releases.
UNBURIER lineup:
Ben Champion - Vocals/Guitar
Blake Hibberd - Guitar/Vocals
Stan Mitchell - Bass
Kim Hughes - Drums
