This one hit me out of the blue! I never heard of the Finnish duo BURIAL CHOIR before, I have to admit. And now, with their third album “Descension Of Firmament”, they present nothing less than my personal album of the year. The melancholic Funeral Doom Metal of BURIAL CHOIR is such heart moving and compelling, I was flashed. Imagine the best moments of the first three MY DYING BRIDE albums, slow down the speed even more and add some extra desolation and melancholy. That might give you a rough idea of how “Descension Of Firmament” sounds. BURIAL CHOIR already got me with the first sorrow ridden guitar melodies of ‘Canto III.I’ and didn’t let me loose for the rest of the album. Through the sixteen minutes of this first song, the band indulges in desolation, solitude and melancholy. And the other two songs, surprisingly titled ‘Canto III.II’ and ‘Canto III.III’, are of the same quality. Despite the long running times, the songs are really diversified, yet the changes are subtle and take their time to evolve. The growling vocal delivery fits perfectly as a counterpoint to the guitar harmonies that dominate the songs. BURIAL CHOIR are a real pretender to the throne of Funeral Doom and in my eyes this album is the greatest I have heard in years in this genre. Honestly, who needs happy music when sad music can be that wonderful? If you feel addressed, don’t hesitate to check out “Descension Of Firmament”. www.facebook.com/burialchoir, www.facebook.com/fallentemple666