Ready for perhaps THE doom metal/hard rock album of 2013? I sure as hell wasn't expecting this lethal slab of heaviness that practically came out of nowhere to completely knock me on my ass. Victor Griffin should be no stranger to metal fans, as he was the riffmaster behind doom legends Pentagram as well as Place of Skulls for many years, and he's brought along some familiar names for his new band In-Graved, including Trouble's original drummer Jeff "Oly" Olson on Hammond organ, drummer Pete Campbell (60 Watt Shaman, Place Of Skulls), and bassist Guy Pinhas (The Obsessed, Acid King, Goatsnake) with guest appearances on the album by bassists Ron Holzner (Trouble, Earthen Grave, Debris Inc), Greg Turley (Pentagram), Marty Swaney (Death Row, Pentagram), and Dan Lively (Sweet Cicada), Anne Griffin as well as keyboardist Mike Puleo (Orodruin). Needless to say, this outfit absolutely crushes here on their eight song debut.
If you've been a fan of Pentagram since the early '80s, then you've no doubt become familiar with Griffin's brontosaurus riffing that he's contributed to that band on so many classic doom albums. He's in fine form here as well, delivering memorable, bone crushing heavy riffs, distorted blues-rock leads, as well as surprisingly strong vocals. Tunes "Digital Critic", "What If...", "Late For An Early Grave", and "Thorn In the Flesh" are just massive examples of prime doom mixed with '70s styled hard rock, and besides the wall of riffs Olson also does a nice job laying down some wicked Hammond organ. "Fading Flower" is a more psychedelic & atmospheric blues-rock number, and the band crank out a heavy cover of the Jethro Tull classic "Teacher", sounding like a cross between Pentagram and Blue Cheer, with Griffin delivering bruising riffs and the Hammond organ taking the place of Ian Anderson's flute. Huge, Black Sabbath styled power chords and raging Hammond drive the awesome "Love Song For The Dying", a near 7-minute epic of earth shattering doom, and "Never Surrender" is more of an upbeat stoner rock tune, complete with stinging guitar leads and vocals that sound almost like the late Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy.
In-Graved is so deliciously heavy and memorable it's hard not to completely fall in love with all the doomy goodness going on here. Victor Griffin has proven for many years that he's one of the 'kings of the riff' in heavy metal, and he only cements that statement even more here. A fantastic album from a band that I hope we hear even more from in the future, and while he's at it, hopefully he can coax another album out of Bobby Liebling and Pentagram.
Track Listing
01. Digital Critic
02. What If...
03. Late For An Early Grave
04. Fading Flower
05. Thorn In The Flesh
06. Teacher
07. Love Song For The Dying
08. Never Surrender
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