Imagine being a child and your buddy informs you that an outfit known as Bonecarver has a new album titled Carnage Funeral on Unique Leader. What do you do with that information? That’s like the most metal collection of words ever assembled. Carnage Funeral? Bonecarver? What in the world is a Bonecarver and why does anyone need it? So many questions trying to keep up with a rushing imagination. 

And if you are a kid then Carnage Funeral will sound like World War III. This thing will make you think like it’ll put hair on your chest. But as an adult, the rent is due on Tuesday and if you’ve heard any Oceano record then you’ve heard what Bonecarver is serving up here. 

‘Pillars of Tragedy’ is very much a mission statement here. Lots of blast-beats going early, shift down to mid-tempo and make sure to add a breakdown at the end. Oh, and please don’t forget to add the keyboard atmospherics for maximum impact. 

But then ‘The Red Wake’ let’s guitarists Alex Tena and Alberto Bravo roam free a bit and they deliver some tasteful guitar licks, but unfortunately, we don’t get a solo. We were onto something, boys! 

And that is my biggest issue with Carnage Funeral. The gentlemen in Bonecarver are clearly very talented but seem to be playing a bit safe by adhering so strictly to the tried-and-true deathcore standards and practices. I need these cats to go full feral like Suffocation and burn the house down with the riffs, or better yet, channel Gorguts and melt some minds in the lead department. One more thing before wrapping this all up, vocalist Fernando del Villar is more than up for the task but not every song needs so much in the lyrical department. Weird common complaint that I have, but let’s share the spotlight a bit. 

Bonecarver has the potential to be great, but they need to be willing to take some risks.

Buy the album here: https://www.bonecarverofficial.com/

6 / 10

HANS LOPEZ