The 2015 album Exploding Ashes by the Portuguese band Buried Alive, released through Firecum Records in collaboration with NBQ Records, marked a triumphant return for this veteran act from Vila Nova de Gaia. Following a 14-year hiatus since their previous work, the band utilized this ten-track release to reaffirm their status as pillars of traditional Thrash Metal in Northern Portugal. The music is deeply rooted in the 1990s style, blending aggressive Bay Area-influenced riffs with melodic solos and a powerful rhythmic foundation that captures the quintessence of the genre. The album features standout tracks such as My Own Nightmares, Black Sky, I The Master, and the crushing finale Destroyer of Innocence. Lyrically, the record explores themes of personal struggle, social decay, and internal nightmares, all delivered with a production style that balances an old school grit with modern clarity. This release was a significant milestone for the band, which has been a fixture of the underground scene since its formation in 1991, and it paved the way for their continued activity and participation in later high-profile projects like the 2020 Bastards United split.
