GraViL
Thoughts of a Rising Sun
10 Track Album
Released 1st May 2013
Written for RamZine
GraviL – London
Links:
Genre: Metal
In the bands
own words:
“Following the
release of their single/music video 'Enemy Within' London metal troops GraViL have unleashed their brand new
album 'Thoughts of a Rising Sun' to
critical acclaim.
No strangers to
the music world, GraViL have already
featured in Kerrang, Terrorizer and Rock Sound magazines and radio airplay
including Ian Camfield's XFM rock show. Their single 'March of the Titans'
(with guest James McIlroy - Cradle Of Filth) features as a bonus track on
'Thoughts Of A Rising Sun' with the track play listed by Scuzz TV and radio
stations including Bruce Dickinson’s Radio 6 Rock Show.
'Thoughts of a Rising Sun' was recorded
late 2012 at Escape Route Studios in London with acclaimed producer Dan Abela
(Gallows, Bleed from Within, Voices, Silent Descent). Abela has taken GraViL's awesome raw power, giving it a
feeding frenzy of steroids and nurturing the capsule of songs into a colossal,
snarling landscape of aggression, pace and melody. Highlights include the
single 'Enemy Within' (a melodic almost 'core' track) whilst in contrast the harsh
un-commercial 'Beyond Reprieve' is brutal and 'Bottle Of Shadows' encapsulates
everything GraViL represent with
plenty of melody and sledgehammer riffs and hooks”
Structurally
Unsound
I would say
this is structurally sound! And judging from the velocity of sound
coming from my speakers I feel I have to drop to my knees and support these
guys – what an amazing array of vocal dexterity coupled with jagged pummelling
beats and harsh rhythms that simply devour and conquer – and don’t be fooled by
the pleasant string ensemble either it just outlines the bands amazing
diversity to a T. Contrasting between melodically supreme to down-right harsh
and brutal there is something for everyone on just this track alone!
GraViL
Enemy Within
Clever... an
earthly flute starts and then incorporates a haunting melody with terrific
growls. GraViL I salute you! That
driving intensity of rhythm is taking a hold and is truly dragging me into its
head shaking magnitude of extremity. Encapsulating and raw Oh how I am loving
being taken to hell on a bed of nails – it’s going to hurt but what the hell I
am enjoying the ride!
Beyond Reprieve
This is like
standing in front of a cold heartless firing squad one by one the bullet like
rhythms are being fired straight into the heart of the listener and the
euphoric guitar riffs inject the ears with a caustic solution – so in other
words – you don’t stand a chance with this one. Again I am revelling in its
extremity and loving every minute of this hellish torture and seriously
contemplating a replay or 6 until I am beyond reprieve!
The Wanderer
Rippling
muscular rhythms wrap themselves around you like a barbed wire coat embellished
with razor blades. The harmonies are keeping my feet firmly on the ground
whilst the terrific scale of the guitars are stretching me to my limits of
endurance and yet I reach for the volume and turn it up a further 4 notches to
savour its brutality!
Something worth
Chasing
Awesome piano
keys open this track and then a harsh entourage of heavy riffs explode and a GraVeLly vocal ensues. The melody is
ever present and sweeps you into a void of intensity, where you can truly
savour this in its entirety – just close your eyes and feel the bite! And turn
the fucker up to get full effect, it’s just so delicious! Perfection personified!
Interlude
And now for a
spot of sophistication – yes these guys can do both sophisticated and harsh
with resounding ease although it builds to a higher octane level and will
throttle you but just bathe in its super intense wash of rhythms – it won’t
soothe, but it will satisfy!
Thoughts of a
Rising Sun
The previous
track runs into this one which is the title track and a little confusing but
none the less enjoyed immensely. Still in the vein of extremely huge in content
it never lets up for a second. Pounding
rhythms will just take over and you will be helpless to stop it – go with the
flow and enjoy being eaten alive with pure melodic caustic riffage!
The Struggle
Up tempo and
brutal with ferocious gnarlyness but slightly weaker clean vocal that is
definitely out of tune which is a shame however redeemed with a fierce growl
once more. This track is definitely a struggle clean vocal wise!
Through the
eyes of Spartans
Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Venomous intensity will just flow through your veins as this hits.
Predominantly scathing vocal amid a harsh and rapturous drum beat curling
itself around you in a no holds barred manner it will squeeze you dry of all
life like a wrung out cloth. The scale of riffs is fiery and in your face
melting the skin at a rate of knots until it just leaves the skull.
Bottle of
Shadows
A slight
respite from all the harshness with a crisp guitar that is striking and
flavoured with a melodic stance of power. It holds a rhythmic sway that builds
quickly to engage the listener in sheer purgatory, so the respite was short
lived – did you think that GraViL
were going to let you off lightly? In your dreams.
To Sum up:
One melting pot
of surging and engaging passionate frenzy of squalid pleasure with only one
weak track “The Struggle” this album was created to remove skin from the bones
and it does so with caustic sensibility as it ravishes and pulverises in all
its splendour. Absolutely amazing!
My ears are
literally ringing from listening! This is the ‘mutha’ of all albums and like a
dragon will breathe flames of unadulterated passion straight into the aural
cortex with utter abandon and as a result your head will explode! This should
be respected as it is unlikely to be repeated.
9½/10
Track List:
Structurally Unsound
Enemy Within
Beyond Reprieve
The Wanderer
Something worth Chasing
Interlude
Thoughts of a Rising Sun
The Struggle
Through the eyes of Spartans
Bottle of Shadows
Members:
Grant Stacey - Vocals
Andy Slade - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Tony Dando - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Sparx - Bass and Backing Vocals
Conor Harkness - Drums
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