Burning Dogma Records has been re-releasing older bands that disbanded, for the most part (except Alienation Mental’s – Ball Spouter – what an album and what a title!) and some newer bands from around the globe. This can be a good thing. Before bands get stale like your mom’s pound cake, I think its better that they go out on top. I had picked up the Repudilation CD with all of the old demos and make me think of good times, 15 audience member shows, the pride of Long Island, and the days before Long Island was inundated with soft, emotional, "my girlfriend dumped me because my wiener is small" and tattoos and Amstel Light macho music. Here, Burning Dogma re-released all of the songs released by Spanish death metalers Unnatural.

A naïve tea-bag may say, "Oh yeah, all Spanish death metal is Suffocation/Pyrexia clones," and while this may be true for a couple of releases, it most certainly does not apply to all bands from Spain (i.e Wormed). And what better bands to emulate? Imagine a world where everyone emulated prog-rock masters Opeth. A sad day, indeed. There is a difference from copying and playing in the same style. The original guitarist from Pyrexia’s Sermon Of Mockery works in the neighborhood and was appalled to listen to a song by a Russian band called Scrambled Defuncts which was a replica of "Abominat". Yeah, that sucks. That sucks like if you are at a bar and another man reaches around, dips his hands into your Lee jeans, and cups your sack (something I have coined "Soloing" after the durable plastic cup company). And then this guy’s girlfriend apologizes for her boyfriend’s gay tendencies. Although this has not happened to me, I have witnessed such feats of blatant man-touch. But, I digress.

What we have here in this release is dark, plodding death metal with a fancy for the nostalgic (like one their song titles (5) - Yes, I am on the wings too – take me to Spanish shores where there a hot, thick Spanish women with ample bosoms and jiggly buttocks). I had been exposed and exposed myself to this band on the free Repulsive Assault compilation, which exposed listeners to the then current Repulse Records line-up. I was impressed by the dark sound of the band as well as their nice blend of technicality and heaviness. So, while I am "On the Wings of Nostalgia" I will mention that this band reminds me of early Immolation, early Incantation, and Morpheus Descends. The vocals are descent for the most part, with the vocalist on the first e.p. sounding like my 3-pack-a day smoking uncle trying to do death metal vocals. The drums are well-pronounced and follow the music well and I enjoyed the quick, skippy beats of the double bass. By far, one of the most talented female drummers in this type of music. The guitars are muddy as well as the bass but somehow it works. The overall sound reminds me of Gorguts‘ Erosion Of Sanity which is nice indeed. Actually, this comparison fits much better. Take the sound and feel (heavy riffs with some melody) of early Gorguts without the exact precision and the darkness and brooding nature (without the "evilness") of the aforementioned bands and you have Unnatural.

I do have a couple of gripes with this CD. The live tracks are terrible and sound like they were recorded with your little brother’s Fischer-Price tape recorder. But its all for the sake of a discography, right? In addition, the releases are not in order of release date and it is bizarre how the demo in 1996 has such a poor recording compared to the 1994 release. Maybe that’s why they put it last. Who knows?!

Other than these minor follies, this is a good release. And its great when you can get all of a bands releases on one disc, even with the Live in Dildo tracks, or whatever. Plus, there is some real professional packaging here, which is nice as we wave goodbye to Unnatural "On the Wings of Nostalgia." Man, what a line! Put me with the poetic greats! Written By: Double Ds