Stained By Hate
Grave mark their twentieth anniversary (yes, twentieth) of a career that arguably sees them as death metal heroes and as pioneers of the Swedish death metal scene. Whatever you opinion, Grave are true metal stalwarts and their legacy and discography cannot be understated. 'Dominion VIII' is the band's eighth album, obviously, and with titles such as 'Annihilated God', 'Stained By Hate' and 'Sinners Lust' you know the band is going to grab you by the throat and then probably eat it.
Upon listening to 'Dominion VIII' the first words that end the mind are 'old fashioned'. I don't write this in a disrespectful way, far from it, but the whole album has a retro almost classic sound and feel to it. A lot of this is to do with the production. Whereas their last album 'As Rapture Comes' contained lush, thick, layered guitars and a drum sound that would shudder the dead, 'Dominion VIII' sounds like it's been recorded on a thin budget. The top end seems to have been peeled away leaving the brutal bottom and dry middle end. The whole experience is muffled and dull sounding, but this is only on the first few listens until you realise that you've spoiled by modern production techniques and digital enhancements. This album sounds like it was recorded at the turn of the pre Pro-Tools nineties, and this is what I mean by 'Dominion VIII' sounding retro (as retro as metal can get of course considering it's relatively short history). It's how thrash bands used to sound in the days of tape to tape analogue recording. When you get past the fact that this album doesn't sound as crisp and clear as many modern albums, you realise it IS quite well produced but produced within itself.
When you finally get past the production the songs start to make their mark and I would argue that 'Dominion VIII' has the wood on their last album because the songs are just too damn good. The trademark blast beats, break downs and overall thrashing are prevalent, as are the impressive growling and crazed solos of Ola Lindgren. 'A World in Darkness' and 'Fallen (Angel Son)' start proceedings with vicious charge that utilises all of Grave's assets. 'Stained By Hate' is an excellent slab of metal with its slow breaks, fast thrashing and short but ever so sweet Kerry King-esque mindless solo. The title track is a dark and epic seven and a half minute journey that creeps rather than blasts its way to your ears. But it is 'Annihilated God' that stood out from the others, why? I still have no idea, I just loved it.
Grave have written a good album in 'Dominion VIII' that will sit nicely in their own legacy. The riffs and tunes may not rip your face off within the first few seconds for the reasons given above, but if given patience the listener will be rewarded with a collection of well written and performed death metal.