Album Review: Grave Lines – Communion (New Heavy Sounds)

Two albums in and London’s Grave Lines, purveyors of ‘heavy gloom’ have already carved a unique niche in the myriad spheres of heavy music. Their first album ‘Welcome To Nothing’ set the tone for their distinct take on doom metal, which was broadened even further with album two ‘Fed Into The Nihilist Engine’. An epic feast of hard ‘n’ heavy riffs coupled with brooding sadness interspersed with thoughtful transcendent moments of introspection.

Never a band to rely solely on trotting out those ‘doom metal’ tropes, the band began to weave in gothic and experimental elements into their music, to delve deeper into the dark shadows of the psyche.

Now with their third album ‘Communion’ Grave Lines continue their exploration into the ugliness of the human condition, at the same time becoming a band that truly defies any pigeonhole. ‘Communion’ will be released on July 15th via New Heavy Sounds.

The transformation of Grave Lines, while never straying too far from the doom path, has proven to be an unmitigated success so far and based off the quality of Communion, that isn’t going to change.

An album that might very well be the best thing Grave Lines have produced so far and an amalgamation of who they are as it stands today. It’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s doomy, it’s gothic, it’s eccentric and it’s experimental. The overall product is one that crawls under the skin and leaves you feeling cold and feverish.

It is deliciously dark music, sometimes melodic, sometimes harsh but always captivating. In fact, although it seems absurd to say, it can often be downright beautiful. In a morbid and twisted way.

Don’t let the seven-track length confuse you. Each track is a behemoth of everything that makes Grave Lines a hell of a talented bunch. Not only that, but this is also them on a creative tear as a track like Lycaenid will prove. A track that is over 11 minutes long and incredibly haunting (those vocals are like a drop of ice on the nape). The melody slowly wrapping its chilling tendrils around the mind. Meaning the uptick in tempo and more vigorous heavy portion that comes along sounds even more intense. An unbelievably good track.

Though it’s far from alone in being a slice of brilliance. Every single track on this album delivers an experience to be remembered. Even something as strange as the industrial fuzz, buzz and atmosphere that is Tachinid.

Communion is an album that needs to heard to be believed, such is the unforgettable nature of what Grave Lines have created here. An album of the year contender, no question.

Grave Lines – Communion Full Track Listing:

1. Gordian
2. Argyraphaga
3. Lycaenid
4. Tachinid
5. Carcini
6. Broodsac
7. Sinensis

Links

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