Few days are left before meeting again the US heavy doom metal bunch Second Grave. You just have to wait for the Halloween night for enjoying a new injection of blazing heavy doom rock … The band from Boston (Massacchusetts) are back with new heavy tunes that draw power and inspiration from the same prolific source that fed their great self-titled debut EP (HERE). The band involves the skills and the creativity of several experienced musicians, like singer and guitarist Krista Van Guilder (Warhorse, Obsidian Halo, Lucubro), bassist Dave Gein (Black Pyramid), guitarist Chris Drzal (Obsidian Halo) and drummer Chuck Ferreira (Nodscene). Two tracks only, yes, but substantial both in length and in munchies!
The release is opened by an over 6 minutes-long dynamic heavy metal ballad called Mourning Light, where the band unleashes streams of infectious and epic energy conveyed by a cascade of classic, galloping heavy metal riffs. The melody is very much groove-laden and the rhythm easily induces to headbanging, but the downtuning of the guitars and the consequent heaviness underlying the only seemingly catchy refrains remind the listener that this is a band deeply rooted into doom. Krista’s vocals are passionate and epic, highly melodic and powerful as well especially during the rumbling parts of the ballads. Intimacy is added when aggressive electric riffs take a break halfway through the ballad, and soft touches on the bass/guitar chords and some slow drumming keep the time and build up a seducingly groovy, instrumental psych-desert rock serenade. Rapidly the rhythm builds up and waves of blows coming from the drums join forces with the howls from the lead guitar until the initial leading dynamics and Krista’s hot vocals are brought back into action.
The second track, the almost 12 minutes-long suite Drink the Water, is where the band is conjugating their doom roots more extensively. If Mourning Light might somehow cheer up your spirits, Drink The Water sort of turns the light down and covers everything with a funereal veil. Drink The Water starts as a gloomy doom ballad lead by a Sabbathian plodding rhythm. The passionate heat emanating by Krista’s dramatic vocals contrast with the buzz of the downtuned guitars busy with their sinister-sounding riffing. But the band is too skilled and creative for limiting to simple slow plodding doom. As a matter of fact there are refreshing tempo changes and variably dynamic, heavy metal refrains merging with the leading doomy melody. Also the chanting follows the variability of the sounds and rhythms and double vocals may even be heard in emotional choruses. The closure of this long track is surprising! The last two minutes or so are dominated by a sinister funereal, drony doomy march where a few, slow dull beats of a distant bronze bell resound and some hellish screams or deadly rattles tell of a charming lady morphing into a tremendously evil banshee probably as midnight is approaching …
Black Sabbath, NWOBHM, Merciful Fate or so come to mind when wanting to list the “basic” ingredients of what is heard in these two juicy ballads. But thinking about more recent bands, the fascinating and morbid retro-sounding blend of dynamic heavy metal and Sabbathian grimness can’t but remind me of what heard in acts like Ghost Tower from USA and Rise and Shine from Sweden. The similarity with Rise and Shine especially holds, for me at least, for the comparable chanting style and vocal tone and range between Krista Van Guilder and Josabeth Leidi. Great singers indeed …
Second Grave’s new EP/single Antithesis was recorded by Clay Neely at Black Coffee Sound and was mastered by John Brenner of Revelation. The dark, charming ornaments on the sleeve were designed by Cory Heisson. The release of the new EP as limited edition (500 10″ vinyl copies) is via Pariah Child Records, the UK label also featuring Argus and Eight Hands for Kali in its roster. The release will officially take place on Halloween Night 2013. This event is coupled with the involvement of the band in the Stoner Hands of Doom XIII festival in Richmond, VA, on November 9th 2013. And hopefully this is also the sign that more tunes are due out by this cool bunch of heavy rockers, because two tracks are definitely not enough ….
Words: Marilena Moroni
Tracklist:
1. Mourning Light (6:38)
2. Drink the Water (11:41)
Official Website
Bandcamp
Stream the suite “Drink the Water” via The Obelisk: HERE