1. The Calling (Intro) 00:51 instrumental
2. Eaten by Hulder 04:51
3. Sea of Dead Bodies 04:59
4. Ulfhednar 04:23
5. The Einherjers' Return 05:58
6. Snakebite 03:33
7. Under the Fading Sun 04:35
8. Tears of Mourner 05:11
9. As the Ocean Takes Us Down 07:55
10. Burning Creation 04:07
The new album by melodic death metal band BURNING CREATION is the Polish band's first album since their debut EP Never Dead Nation (2023) and deals with the concept of Vikings returning from the afterlife to finally avenge the sins of this world.
Sea of Dead Bodies is the debut album by Polish melodic death metallers Burning Creation, released by Via Nocturna on November 29, 2024. The band was formed in early2022 in Żywiec, Poland by the Klimonda brothers after their former band Haures went on hiatus, and in no time Burning Creation made their mark on the extreme metal community. The band's music draws heavily from Amon Amarth, Wolfheart and King of Asgard, combining brutal death metal with melodic elements that bring to mind the frozen atmospheres of the North. The album consists of ten tracks that explore Viking mythology and Norse folklore. Starting with the intro and “The Calling (Intro)”, immediately the listener feels this ominous atmosphere emerging, and then “Eat by Hulder”, puts you in the mood for good, clearly influenced by Norse mythology. "Sea of Dead Bodies" then continues this thematic exploration, surrounding listeners with stories of Norse warriors and deities, while "Ulfhednar" and "The Einherjers' Return" delve into mythological stories, the latter depicting the final battle of the warriors of Valhalla.
With no time to catch a breath, “Snakebite” and “Under the Fading Sun” maintain the album's mix of aggression and melody, achieving something impressive in my opinion, the pattern can remain the same on almost all tracks so far, but at no point do you get bored or feel repetitive! "Tears of Mourner" is influenced by the death of Baldur, it brings a different feel, and with the melancholic melody it easily manages to make its own mark, perhaps the top track of the album. For closing it could only be a cover of a track from Burning Creation's main influence and inspiration—what could be more fitting than Amon Amarth's "Burning Creation"?
Marek Stefaniak in the production, proves his excellent know-how by giving the necessary volume and the right feeling to each track, without doing any injustice to any instrument. The mix ensures that every instrument shines, from the sharp clarity of the guitars to the deep reverberation of the drums. The sound of the record is careful without losing the raw intensity that characterizes melodic death metal. On the other hand, the cover by Damian Bydliński is equally remarkable and complements the theme of the record by depicting a Viking battlefield at sea, which is necessary to understand what one is going to listen to here.
Sea of Dead Bodies marks a successful start for Burning Creation as they make a dynamic entry into the melodic realm. death metal.
While it could be said that the band shows their influences too openly, this does not take away from the overall impact of the album, and at no point can you say that there is a clear copy. Burning Creation have built on the foundations that bands such as Amon Amarth have created, creating something distinctly their own.
Line up:
Piotr Czopek – bass
Jarosław Klimonda – drums
Marek Klimonda – guitars (lead)
Maciej Konior – vocals, guitars (rhythm)
Sea of Dead Bodies was produced by Marek Stefaniak and features cover artwork by Damian Bydliński.
