GRAVE MONOLITH - Self-Titled

Enter “Abhorrent State of Bliss” with its slow and brooding build up to set the mood, full of heavy distortion and atmospheric layers, with haunting screams that resonate from deep within. Brian Chainey’s vocals are gravelly and guttural, evoking all that is of a tortured soul and the suffering therein, delivering with conviction. The narrative has depth, each track accompanied with constructed lyrics that explore the grief and existentialism of being.

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From the flowing shifts of the first track follows “Wounds of the Flesh, Scars of the Soul” with its sinister airs and the sound of rain. Layered, sorrowful voices accompany moody riffs and oppressive distortion that paint a bleakness to meditate upon and leaves ripples in its wake.

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The power of ringing out distortion and slow, deliberate riffs continues with “Oblivion’s Thrall”, cosmic and encompassing in its weight. It hits a state of existing within the sound that feels at home, tapping into many facets of surrounding genres to craft something truly mysterious and emotive, its gentle backs and forths contrasting with the heavy grit and uplifting solo.

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Ending on a solid note, “Hearts of Violence” is oppressive and heavy as the darkest track on the album, portraying the horrors of a romance. A gargling scream washes out into the calm, giving time for reflection before one is thrust back into the grim soundscape and dark descent. Its impact as a final track hits incredibly hard, leaving behind an echo of the moment in all its technically rich expression. A fade into silence.

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Brimming with atmosphere, self-titled “Grave Monolith” is an immersive and rich four track debut. An emotional body of work, it is coarse and heavy and inspires catharsis within its notes and its sheer chaos of sound, gripping the soul.

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SCORE 9/10

Reviewed by GhostinthearmouR