4 April 2025
With a powerful blend of raw emotion, technical precision, and an impressive lineup of guest artists, BURIED REALM returns with The Dormant Darkness, a deeply personal and dynamic melodic death metal journey set for release on April 4, 2025. Celebrating over a decade in the industry, BURIED REALM marks a new milestone with this new album being a testament to years of growth, refined craftsmanship, and unrelenting passion.
The album kicks off with “Bloodline Artifice”, a powerful opener both lyrically and instrumentally. Driven by searing guitar riffs, thunderous beats, and commanding vocals, the track delves into themes of betrayal, shattered innocence, and a tainted safe haven corrupted by family.
Following this is “Futuristic Hollow Nation”, a heavy-hitting blend of crushing riffs, haunting orchestration, and an evocative narrative exploring emotional isolation and existential desolation in a futuristic void. Next, “Human Code” bursts forth as a high-energy, riff-driven metal anthem, balancing raw intensity with technical precision. Featuring dynamic guitar solos, Björn Strid’s powerful vocals, and intricate drumming, the track channels chaos into a finely crafted and exhilarating experience.
The fourth track, “A Futile Endeavor”, shifts gears with its melodic and emotionally charged tone, intertwining guitars and synth melodies to evoke a poignant mix of beauty and despair. Lyrically, it confronts themes of regret, irreversible loss, and the haunting search for redemption, painting a vivid picture of a fractured soul consumed by guilt and abandoned hope.
“Where the Armless Phantoms Glide, Pt. II” anchors the album as its centerpiece, evolving from a gritty, power-metal-inspired vision into a haunting and cinematic masterpiece. With Björn Strid’s emotive vocals, Heikki’s relentless drumming, and Francesco’s atmospheric orchestration, the track brims with tension, grandeur, and raw intensity, delivering a visceral and dynamic performance.
Track six, “Ophidian Dreams”, pulls the listener into a dark, brooding nightmare with hypnotic progressive elements and undulating waves of tension and release. Originally born from fragmented ideas, the song found new life through fresh perspective and was further enriched by Heikki’s and Francesco’s contributions, transforming it into an epic and atmospheric highlight despite technical challenges along the way.
The penultimate track, “Jaws of the Abyss”, is a standout collaboration with Christian Älvestam, blending soaring clean vocals, signature growls, and a striking synth melody that forms the emotional core of the piece. Rooted in the album’s overarching themes, this climactic and deeply resonant track showcases the creative synergy between Älvestam and the band.
The album closes with its namesake, “The Dormant Darkness”, a bold and triumphant finale that embodies the collaborative spirit and personal milestones of its creation. Featuring electrifying guest solos by Gus G., gripping vocals from Christian Älvestam, and contributions from friends and fans, the track culminates in a climactic celebration of BURIED REALM’s journey. Blending powerful orchestration, dynamic performances, and heartfelt connections, it stands as a defining moment of passion and perseverance.
The Dormant Darkness is a tour de force of creativity, collaboration, and raw emotion, cementing BURIED REALM’s place in the modern metal landscape.
Josh Dummer, mastermind behind BURIED REALM, comments ”‘The Dormant Darkness’ is a deeply personal journey, featuring incredible contributions from artists I’ve admired since my teenage years. Collaborating with them has been nothing short of surreal. This album represents a new chapter of creative exploration and growth as a musician (hopefully, haha), and I’m thrilled to finally share it with you.”
About BURIED REALM:
BURIED REALM is a force in the melodic death metal realm, emerging from Colorado Springs, Colorado, under the creative vision of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Josh Dummer. BURIED REALM has delivered a unique blend of technical rhythm and lead guitars, atmospheric synths, and progressive songwriting, drawing influence from 1980s shred guitar icons like Jason Becker and Marty Friedman, as well as American and Scandinavian death metal. With a desire to break free from formulaic approaches, Josh explores diverse atmospheres and ideas, crafting music that pushes creative boundaries. BURIED REALM’s three acclaimed albums—The Ichor Carcinoma (2017), Embodiment of the Divine (2020), and Buried Realm (2022)—are testaments to Josh’s vision of pushing boundaries while staying rooted in the genre’s core intensity and complexity.
A hallmark of BURIED REALM’s identity is its collaborations with metal luminaries, amplifying its status as a project that bridges innovation and tradition. Guest appearances from Brandon Ellis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER), Teemu Mäntysaari (MEGADEATH/WINTERSUN), Björn Strid (SOILWORK), Christopher Amott (ex-ARCH ENEMY), Per Nilsson (SCAR SYMMETRY), and Christian Muenzner (ex-OBSCURA) infuse the music with diverse influences while complementing Josh’s technical precision and atmospheric depth. This collaborative spirit, combined with a commitment to progressive, melodic death metal songwriting, ensures that no two tracks feel the same. With its raw power, intricate arrangements, and relentless creativity, BURIED REALM looks to elevate its legacy with its fourth album, The Dormant Darkness, set to release in April 2025—a fierce promise of evolution within the melodic death metal genre.
BURIED REALM is:
Josh Dummer – all instruments and vocals (with the exception of guest appearances)
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