Orchid Throne – Buried in Black
Release Date: 9th January 2026
Label: Self Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Melodic Doom
FFO: Swallow the Sun, Anathema, Woods of Ypres, Novembers Doom, Draconian.
Review By: Paul Cairney
Buried in Black is the debut album by Orchid Throne, the brainchild of the supremely talented Nicholas Bonsanto. With the exception of the Flute (provided by Mary Beck), almost all aspects of the album were provided by Nick, all instruments, music and lyrics through to the production, mixing and mastering. The fact that he didn’t do the album artwork only serves to disappoint.
Buried in Black starts and finishes with 13 minute plus tracks. ‘Dreamworld’ is the album opener, welcoming you with a melancholic piano led intro before the big riff introduces itself. The length of the track becomes irrelevant, and you are guided through the emotional landscape, bleak and desperate and an overall sense of foreboding. Indeed, the track encapsulates the albums theme of ‘weaving themes of anxiety, depression, fear of death, and the search for life’s meaning throughout its lyrics’.
The closing track is longer, but again, it benefits from its ability to grow and explore the complex emotions of suicide, hopelessness, and defeat. ‘With Promise’ is the track that almost defines the whole album. An enveloping bleakness, but with a message that you can get through it, and you must.
In between, there are a few more, ‘upbeat’ tracks, I use the term loosely, that are well-placed. ‘What Defines Us’ and ‘Moonlight Revelry’ dominate the middle of the album and continue the dark theme.
All this may sound a bit depressing, but it absolutely isn’t. Bonsanto appears to be exploring inside himself, presenting it to the world. It is an enjoyable listen, the musicality of the album, the way it grips you in a tight grasp, is almost hypnotizing in its intensity.
The downside of Buried in Black is the fact that this is an utterly solo project. It appears that nobody was there to reign Bonsanto in where it could benefit the album. Although the opening and closing tracks are the highlight of the album, do they really need to take up almost half of its run-time? Shaving a couple of minutes off would improve already decent songs.
Ultimately, Orchid Throne is the medium for a very talented man. There may be a handful of minor flaws, but Nick Bonsanto should be incredibly proud of what he has delivered, and Buried in Black is well worth your time.
(3.5 / 5)
