ALBUM REVIEW: Graverape – Exhuming Decay

Here I review the debut album from Death Metal violators GRAVERAPE, out via Desert Wasteland Productions on January 31st.

Samples of shovelling and roaring bass drones in for a fierce yet doomy beginning to the record. Continuing in the doomy vein, Death-Doom riffs and howling, strangled screams join with monotonous, dragging drum beats. This hideously unpleasant atmospheric works beautifully as melodic riffs add to the pummelling morbidity. Picking up into whiplash grooves, the dance macabre of pure old school Death Metal worship is strong with an unrelenting crawl of grave-opening treats in store. Blastbeats and snarling riffs back up a vitriolic slew of growled vocals to violate the listener with some of the filthiest material one could imagine from a bands debut. While not the HM-2 one might presume from this statement, the Swedeath influence is certainly there with some real Death ‘n’ Roll hooks to add merciless groove to the savage Death-Doom affair while keeping things interesting with fantastic guitar solos and huge instrumental diversity that speaks for itself. While the instrumental blend of Swedeath and more typically violent Death Metal brutality is a stoic blend of sounds that drop a slab of hammering decimation on the listener, we have vocals more in the style of Acid Witch which is a really interesting combination that one doesn’t come across daily and certainly grabbed my attention. With magnificent songwriting and infectious rhythms gloriously driving the record forth, there is no denying this is some killer material. With a guest appearance from Trevor (The Black Dahlia Murder), these guys clearly have huge ambition, ambitions I believe they will realise with this monstrously heavy debut that stormed onto the scene and definitely deserves your attention. This concoction of savagery churns out some of the most depravedly crushing Death Metal that Desert Wasteland Productions have offered to date, definitely a very notable release for the label whom are growing rapidly in the underground scene (especially among tape lovers). If you think Death Metal should have huge Doom Metal influence while remaining utterly barbaric, this is a fine example of what you seek with endless visceral grooves and storming doomy atmospherics while keeping things savage throughout while brooding with morbid energies from the crypt. -7.5/10