Graves at Sea: The Curse That Is

Even though this is Graves at Sea's first full-length, the band should be somewhat well known with metal fans. In recent years, the band released a handful of demos and splits, most of which were admired by critics and fans. I first heard the band on its recent split release with Sourvein. The music on this release is generally consistent with the band's earlier output, but the production is a little tighter and the sound a little louder. The music and lyrics reinforce the despair of the band's name; this is the soundtrack for throwing dead bodies into the cold and heartless sea. At times, the band even revels in the despair it creates. The opening track even suggests raising a glass and toasting our common doom. It's tempting to interpret that sentiment in light of the carpe diem attitude to live it up because death is coming all too soon. I don't think that's the point here. Graves at Sea isn't making party music; instead, the band highlights the problem of death and despair in ways that approach nihilism. What if there's nothing at all to hope for? What if there's nothing to live for or, worse, to die for? As Ralph Waldo Emerson suggested, sometimes the answer is simply to say "up again old heart" and give things another day.

The best tracks on this album are also the most energetic. Even the most despairing music needs something to help thump things along and Graves at Sea certainly has enough riff and rhythm to keep things moving. The title track is particularly good in this sense. An extended commentary on a world that doesn't make sense, the song delivers solid riffs and vocals that stand out for their power and gusto.

Several of the tracks also feature a violin that is consistently sad and melancholy. Some tracks end with violin and some begin with it. I suspect it lurks in the background of several tracks even when it isn't clearly highlighted. The violin passages enhanced the dark mood of the album and never broke up the music in obtrusive ways. Check out the opening of "The Ashes Made Her Beautiful" for a good sample of the violin playing. Listen, too, for the regular ting of the drums about a third into that same track. I found it haunting, almost like the bell that tolls someone's death.

Other highlights include "This Mental Sentence," "Waco 177," and "Luna Lupus Venator." The latter also makes strong use of the violin and an acoustic guitar to create a folk-inspired instrumental that is both dark and powerful.

Graves at Sea creates dark and despairing music but they do so in ways that do those moods justice. Like the blues, there may even be a moment or two of transcendence, of dealing with the pain in productive and healing ways.

Track Listing:
1. The Curse That Is
2. Dead Eyes
3. Tempest
4. The Ashes Made Her Beautiful
5. This Mental Sentence
6. Waco 177
7. Luna Lupus Venator
8. Minimum Slave

Added: April 12th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1617
Language: english

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