Artist: Grave
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 1/28/03
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Title: Back From the Grave Artist: Grave Label: Century Media Release Date: 1/28/03 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
What the hell happened to these guys? Did they get lost on the way to the studio? Is this really their first studio album since 1996's Hating Life? Did they forget what they did for a living? Maybe they got really high for six years and ran into an old friend and he asked how the band was going. "Oh yeah, I knew I was forgetting something. I'm in a band!" Anyway, they're back. Of course, a lot has changed since then. The last time this band came out with a studio album Limp Bizkit and Korn had yet to be discovered by the mainstream, no one knew Bob Dole was impotent (alright, we probably could have guessed), and Monica Lewinsky was just some fat chick. So the question is, can a band that's been away for so long measure up?
"Is this really their first studio album since 1996's Hating Life? Did they forget what they did for a living?" In my experience there are two types of Grave fans: fans that like everything they've ever done, and fans that abandoned them after they heard Soulless. So for a point of reference, I am of the former. And that's important because this is the same, mid-paced, accessible (dare I say almost upbeat?) death metal that made these guys so damn irresistible. Fans who didn't like Grave's later work will most likely remain unimpressed, however. Like Unleashed's most recent album, Grave invoke the 'retro' Sunlight sound with a modern twist, but Back From the Grave is a much more successful effort.
The songwriting is crisp and concise, as Grave seem to have held onto all of the characteristics that made them so fulfilling so many years ago. This album is relatively polished, however, which may turn off some old fans, but it maintains a thickness and groove that the average metalhead should find refreshing in its simplicity.
"The songwriting is crisp and concise, as Grave seem to have held onto all of the characteristics that made them so fulfilling so many years ago." So while Grave hasn't spent the last six years growing in leaps and bounds, they haven't really lost their edge either. Yeah, we've heard this stuff before, and those who used to think of this band as clones of Entombed probably won't change their mind all that much, but I think it's great to have a small resurgence in this accessible type of death metal. Something groove and rhythm driven, something that sticks out in the sea of melodic death that's really taken over the scene. One word review: Awesome.
Death's Review:
Century Media goes back to its roots with this new release from old-school Swedish death metal act Grave. While critics of this band might think that Annihilator once covered an AC/DC song about this band, this Grave is far from shallow. Yes, the simple, Stockholm-style riffs of yesteryear (think Dismember, Entombed) are certainly present, but they resonate on this album with a heaviness and a depth that only a true metalhead could appreciate. The real star is the standout Jensa Paulsson drum work; a virtual clinic of mid-tempo and steady double-kick accents is on display on almost every track. Nothing fancy, just total pummeling at every turn. These drum tracks are absolutely incessant and make you want to air-drum along by tapping to the heart-pounding beat. "Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga."
"The real star is the standout Jensa Paulsson drum work."
Back From the Grave is absolutely unrelenting in its approach, and tracks like the killer "Below" will surely pound any unsuspecting listeners into submission. While freshly recorded tributes to this long lost era of Swedish metal (e.g., the new Bloodbath) may actually outperform the originators as heard here, this is a solid effort from a veteran act. Six years on the studio shelf apparently mean nothing-- these guys are right back in the action once again. Four (eight?) word review: Worthy of your respect (and a must buy for double bass fans).
"Six years on the studio shelf apparently mean nothing-- these guys are right back in the action once again."
Hel's Review:
My only real issue with this album is the extremely poor production. It actually sounds worse when you turn it up louder. The vocals sound like they're coming from the bottom of a really big tin can, and the guitars sound like they're coming from a closet. These factors adversely affected my listening enjoyment. It is a severe issue for me, and for those of you who always pipe up at this point and tell me the reasons why poor production is cool and old school, let me interject with an, "I don't care." Poor production is poor production in my book - it's the 21st century now, and I can choose to be picky like that. Call me a techno geek. It'd be true.
"The vocals sound like they're coming from the bottom of a really big tin can, and the guitars sound like they're coming from a closet."
"The album would be invincible were it not for the production issues." The album would be invincible were it not for the production issues. The songwriting is great, with lots of fun little breakdowns that help to distinguish the individual songs. The musicianship is top notch, particularly considering how long it's been since the last time "Grave" was listed on the new releases chart. It is old-fashioned Swedish death, just the way you'd want it to be. Gritty (and I'm not referring to the production again, though I could be), thrashy, nuts and bolts death metal is the order of the day, and you'd be wise to just close your menu right now.
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