Grave - Endless Procession Of Souls

First it was Unleashed who surprised me with their latest impressive effort, and the same can be said for Grave. With their new album, 'Endless Procession Of Souls', Grave has also put out what I think is one of their best albums in years. A fine example of the classics still leading the way.

First thing is how heavy this monster is. This deep, raw brutality, the power of those riffs, vocals and drums. Some of the most crushing death metal I have heard this year. The drumming comes off like an avalanche, rushing with the greatest speeds as it tears through paddocks. The devastating hits on the snare and cymbals to the twisting fills that come out of nowhere. As if the avalanche taking place is the beginnings of a volcano exploding, shooting lava and rock every where. Such fury!

For how heavy those riffs are, damn they are catchy! If the speeding brutality isn't crushing enough. Wait till they dirge and slow right down like in 'Winds Of Change' before snapping out to blistering pace with raw tremolo riffing being guided by the dark brutality. Bludgeoning in every way. Like being pelted by the rocks. Throw in some crushing gallops into the fray (eg 'Encountering The Divine'), some killer raw leads (eg 'Perimortem') and you end up with a very chaotic mix that keeps my interest, but the way they balance these elements is what makes the album enjoyable throughout.

As for Ola's throat.. well he can be just as brutal and devastating. Deep, coming from the pit of his stomach, probably ripping his stomach apart when he is forcing those words out. When he stretches out his deep yells, you can really feel the power in them (eg 'Epos'). The gigantic roar of the furious volcano as it explodes.

In the end, every instrument plays an even role in producing one of the most brutally crushing, dark and catchy death metal albums of the year. With the resurgence of death metal in Sweden in recent years, Grave has just shown the rest that they are the rightful claimers to the throne that Dismember vacated last year. Now my head hurts..

Ikil