Gravewards - Ruinous Ensoulment

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There’s a difference between the will to play a Metal genre and to play it literally. To all the musicians, the best way is to know all the features of the genre itself, and to understand that you don’t have rules to follow when you deal with music. Never be trapped by ideas and conceptions that will make you regret in the future. All of that is to say that the Greek trio GRAVEWARDS shows a good work on their first album, “Ruinous Ensoulment”, but some improvements. They are a Death Metal in Old School format, but all those good elements from Greek extreme Metal DNA are presented on the band, what turns their work in something different from the clones that are trying to do again what was produced on Sweden, UK and Florida during the 90’s. But sometimes, they fall in some clichés that could be better used if the trio would write them in their own way. It’s good, indeed, but they show a potential that is greater than what they shown on their songs. They can dare a bit more.

The production is not what they deserve. In some moments, you have the clear idea that the instrumental tunes were chosen wisely (besides a bit cruder than the needed point), but the overall sound quality is not in the same level of their songs. I don’t know if it was a matter of economy or it was what they wanted. If it was in the second, I truly recommend them to look for a better producer, there are some great producers on Greece (and the name of George Bokos would be a fine choice). There are some good songs on the album, and their talent is evident on the arrangements heard on “Sworn in Denial - Omega Syndrome”, on the fine instrumental technique of “Souls Twisted Beyond Recognition”, on the all aggressive “Deconstruction of Logic”, and on the grasping brutality of “Devoid of Life”, but this raw sonority given by the sound quality doesn’t fit in such good musical work.

Their music must be shaped by their personality (that is truly strong), and their songs could be better if they could rewrite the clichés, but a better sound quality will help them a lot. But I believe in their future work, because “Ruinous Ensoulment” is a good first presentation.

Originality: 8
Songwriting: 8
Memorability: 6
Production: 6