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GRAVESITE - Horrifying Nightmares...
Band:   GRAVESITE
Title: Horrifying Nightmares...
CAT. #: XM 183 CD
Format: CD [38:12]
Genre: Death Metal
Released: 07.2015
buy it
Tracklist:
1. Intro/Anguished Sleep
2. Submerged in Vomit
3. Horrifying Nightmares of Flesh and Blood
4. I Want to Rot
5. The Painter of Agonies
6. Where Mortals Fear to Thread
7. Curse of the Red Moon
8. Worship Death in All its Forms
9. Suscipe Mortem
Comment:
1st album by this italian band formed by members from HAEMOPHAGUS, UNDEAD CREEP & CANCER SPREADING that plays an old fashioned Horror Death Metal in the tradition of bands like AUTOPSY, GRAVE, DEATH, CARCASS...
Metal Temple Webzine (gre) 30.09.2015
You want early 90’s death metal? Perhaps something reminiscent of DISMEMBER? DEATH or SLAYER, even? Perhaps a pinch of NAPALM DEATH? GRAVESITE is a pastiche of these bands – I have no doubt we can add more to the list. The essence though, is obviously old school late 80’s and early 90’s death metal. Death metal, amalgamative of its historical antecedents forming a death metal pastiche giving us the GRAVESITE verve we yearn for. I guess I am saying that the album can be thought of as a pummelling force of death metal brutality and darkly, creeping melodies.

Occasionally, you’ll run across some doomy riffs but there’s a lot of variation with the tempo. Sort of like a more hyper MORBID ANGEL. It seems to constantly change between fast and mid pace with an occasional slower part. The “Horrifying Nightmares” album is also not without its own original ideas. There are some solos but they are scarce. It’s chaotic force quivers the skin and fuels adrenaline. It sounds more modern.

“Horrifying Nightmares” makes a kind of comeback that is nothing new. And that is okay. It is nothing entirely original or unique. We get variety and a steady cadence and flow. The production is professional, clearly heard and slick, in spite of sounding rough and rusty. Okay, I used slick and rusty in the same sentence, appalling right? But I think with modern recording technologies providing “GRAVESITE” with that slick production sound while maintaining the dirty death metal sound is something that needs to be acknowledged. It engages in the old sound we liked, gives its take on death metal, proudly wearing the patches of its favourite sounds and influences; “Horrifying Nightmares” is a take it or leave it kind of deal.
Aidan MacNaughton [8/10]
Apoch's Metal Review (uk) 19.07.2015
Italy’s Gravesite may be a relatively new band in name, but not in spirit. The entity was forged from the remnants of Undead Creep, which formed in 2009 with a demo, EP, and full-length under their belt before calling it a day. David (Assumption, Haemophagus), bassist Claudio (Ancient Cult, Bland Vargar), and vocalist Gabri (Black Temple Below, Cancer Spreading), decided to move forward under a new name, as well as new guitarist, having picked up Gioele (Haemophagus, Repulsions) in place of Samantha (Saturnine). Under the new moniker, the four-piece issued their first demo, Obsessed by the Macabre, which was released later that year on cassette format through Iconoclast Records. Shortly after, the band started work on their debut full-length album, which is being handled by the legendary death metal label Xtreem Music. But is this “debut” outing one that could have used a little more maturity for this resurrection, or have Gravesite already come into their own?

Horrifying Nightmares… will sound like familiar territory for long-standing death metal veterans, or previous fans of the band in general. There’s no denying that the remnants of the previous formation still linger in its ranks, but there’s a little more essence of the likes of Cancer and Autopsy at work in their music this time around, as well as a little more of an analog sound compared to the only full-length issued under the Undead Creep name. The guitars are a little on the sharpened side, baring its fangs in an early Carcass output, while the crisp drums work to create infectious rhythms with the mild presence of the bass guitar, adding a little more bite to the eerie atmospheres the leads can sometimes create. The vocals also stand a little different, not quite being as deep and burdensome as they had been before the initial disbanding. Instead they have a vile touch to the harsh growls that only adds to the impact of the b-grade exploitive horror sensation that appears when the band isn’t indulging themselves in a hint of hardcore thanks to the random bouts of authoritative grooves that show from time to time.

For the most part, this effort is a high energy mixture of brutality and creepy melodies. “Intro – Anguished Sleep” sets the latter environment up quite well with a synth piece that could easily fit a b-movie from the sixties or seventies. About a minute in, the music slowly picks up, casting you into a borderline nightmarish world that only continues to grow more intense, bleeding into “Submerged in Vomit” through a held guitar note. The pace returns to as frantic as the prior’s conclusion, throwing the bass guitar pulses at you with the steady drums and eerie guitar work Autopsy fans will warmly embrace. There are some changes that occur and disrupt the timing, but this is handled either in a quick progressive manner, or a doom metal tone, the latter coming into play at just past two-and-a-half minutes in.

“I Want to Rot” is one of the few tracks that really does manage to break the mold for the most part. The group cites Death as an influence, which can be felt early on in the introduction, as well as starting at the three minute mark. What follows is more high energy metal that sounds like a sleeker modern day Swedish death metal assault with nods to Bolt Thrower and the like, all without a heavy digital overproduction. The burdensome churning of doom metal reappears once more about half way through for a short amount of time, crawling along with some additional technicality that moves into an impressive guitar solo before a hint of Exhumed-style goregrind kicks in to wrap things up with.

“Where Mortals Fear to Thread”, however, stands as one of the more epic offerings from the group. Things start with a progressive foothold, quickly shifting to a standard groove-heavy death metal cut that slowly picks up both speed and intensity. Like “Submerged in Vomit”, this is one of the few that rely quite a lot on the bass guitar’s output, bringing the pulse to the forefront in some segments to weave some burdening traits that only grow as you reach the half way mark, working with the drums to suffocate the listener as it pushes ever more through the tightly packed ground to freedom. This leads to a frantic exertion musically, as well as vocally, until the realization of being trapped in the dank darkness sets upon you with riffs that slow the adrenaline for a bit, giving it one more go shortly before it all caves in on you.

Horrifying Nightmares… acts as a testament for an era that has made its comeback in metal today, but often more as a carbon copy than anything all that original or unique. While this effort shows clear evidence of its influences, Gravesite are far from a band of pure hero worship. It’s clear the four-piece is putting a lot of effort into their music, offering up a good deal of variety throughout that all feels natural to the flow of the release (save a few oddball introductions towards the very end), and the joy they have playing the material is clearly heard in the album on every track. Using a number of b-movie scores to play up the horrific angle of the album’s dirty sounding music that is just the right blend of crisp, modern day technological abilities and gritty analog recording methods, Horrifying Nightmares… stands an enthusiastic slab of death metal fans of the gritty late eighties to early nineties days will find plenty of replay value in.
Apoch [8/10]
Xtreem Music (spa) 21.06.2015
Desde la posición peninsular occidental, asumiendo en línea recta el camino de la mano izquierda, volando sobre mesetas y algunas cordilleras, logró cruzar mentalmente el mar Mediterráneo, veraniega masa de aguas mansas adorada por plebe y casta… aunque también maldita donde las haya. Sí, ya estamos de nuevo en Italia, tierra histórica y rica en mitología, fértil productora de Death Metal incondicional, en múltiples variantes y denominaciones. Llegamos al concreto cementerio… claro, porque grandes sombras acompañan. No en vano, en esta fantástica travesía he sido escoltado por las regias rapaces carroñeras, que se dirigen al festín sin dudarlo, con hambre atroz, prodigiosa vista multi-nodo y un instinto que supera en precisión al mejor GPS. Huele a carne descompuesta, a soga rancia, a tripas y huesos… huele a tumba: la Muerte resurge en forma de ejército espectral, y su nuevo apodo es GRAVESITE.

Reconozco que me intrigaba la duda, desde el anuncio de que este sorpresivo combo italiano había fichado por Xtreem Music, tanto por el hecho de conocer su existencia en ese mismo momento como por el sonido y aspecto global de su Demo “Obsessed by the Macabre”, tres cortes Death Metal bien potentes y solventes, en los que se palpa una intención tremenda, amplitud de miras y muy gratos resultados. Establecidos en 2014, sus músicos provienen de formaciones como HAEMOPHAGUS, MORBO, ANCIENT CULT o CANCER SPREADING, trasladando su experiencia a un nuevo punto de partida pero también recreando su actual propuesta en el sonido de la Vieja Escuela. El resultado de esta alianza entre banda y sello emulsiona en forma de CD: “Horrifying Nightmares…” (XM 183 CD).

Un disco que viene bien presentado, a través de esta gran carátula cuya autoría pertenece al artista guatemalteco Mario E. López M., con ese sabor a medias entre la esencia de Mark Riddick y los rostros impersonales de Jon Zig, pero al mismo tiempo manteniendo un toque personal y una viveza digna del antiguo CREEPY, en un contexto de entintado actual. La escena tiene gran fuerza y además parece expresar movimiento, óptimo.

Pero el asunto que cobra verdadera relevancia se refiere a algo tan importante como las propias canciones y su mezcla, ya que estamos ante un trabajo grueso que no solo se limita a tirar del carro de las viejas leyendas, sino que en ocasiones se enrosca y sofistica mediante un equilibrio que, sin duda, confiere al disco cualidades más que interesantes. Porque su huella no es la típica que esperamos encontrar en una banda recreadora del Old School. Y este es el puntazo de GRAVESITE, su soltura y solvencia, mediante un desparpajo y fluidez confluyente en la naturalidad con la que consiguen su objetivo. Desde la onda del Death sueco primitivo y crudo tipo GRAVE a los picantes latigazos de tensión CARBONIZED, EPITAPH o EXCRUCIATE, ramalazos técnicos y malabares de DEATH en diferentes etapas, CARCASS en su vena Grind/Melódica intermedia o el agónico sabor AUTOPSY; incluso puntuales esencias de INCANTATION y de los viejísimos BLACK SABBATH.

El disco ha sido grabado y mezclado en abril del presente año, por cuenta de Umberto “Umbe” Furlan, en sus instalaciones Black Sun Studio. Sin embargo, el proceso de masterización se ha realizado en el específico recinto Wise Mastering. El resultado de ambos trabajos sónicos se traduce en pura masa, graves y medios muy bien equilibrados y un ligero recorte de agudos que sin embargo deja entrever perfectamente los platos de la batería, sin aparentemente restar de brillo al resto de instrumentos. Está bien enfocado y resulta un sólido núcleo de sonido actual pero con la gracia de la intención Old School derivada de la captación, lográndose una pegada plena y contundente, una plasta de huesos y cartonaje que vuela los sesos.

Una vez suena la introducción, “Tormented Sleep” avisa con crueles y majestuosas señas CARCASS, como una plegaria a los dioses primigenios, casi un homenaje que se desglosa técnica y lentamente para pasar a la velocidad de la vieja Suecia y de nuevo patear en onda UK. Tras la primera prueba instrumental superada, la voz de Gabri atruena entre la maraña, distinta a la que emplea en CANCER SPREADING y más próxima al estilo DEATH/MORGOTH. Buen redondeo para comenzar esta música, por parte del vocalista y artífice lírico de la banda.

Tras el sucio y enfermizo toque impreso por el bajo de Claudio, “Horrifying Nightmares of Flesh And Blood” nos trae ecos de un “Suicide Machine” trastocado. Sin embargo, la enfermedad continúa propagándose en medios tiempos y blastings de vena CARCASS (y HAEMOPHAGUS), hasta desembocar en un salvaje tempo POSSESSED “Satan´s Curse” y su estela sucesora DEATH/PESTILENCE. Track endiablado y lleno de buenos cambios que implica un solazo de guitarra en toda regla, en la onda de los citados.

“I Want To Rot” parece evocar lejanamente a “Children of the Grave”, en primera instancia. El particular sonido de guitarra con efecto de modulación inclusive (y que baña parte del disco) da paso a melodías SLAYER y ataques AUTOPSY/CARBONIZED, con un bajo que hace estallar los bafles. Mucho poso Sweden y medios tiempos intercalados, para un corte bien estructurado y que retoma el recurso introductorio para dar paso a nuevas partes tortuosas y ligeramente enrevesadas, en las que el toque Schuldiner aparece cual galletazo que rompe moldes del track, cerrando en onda Grind. Sin duda, esta es una de las canciones que elevan la bandera de GRAVESITE.

Otro muy buen track es “The Painter of Agonies”, precisamente por lo descriptivo del título y la relación existente con su música, ya que sin pretensiones pero con gran contundencia logra emitir un aplastante número que además aporta cierto sabor exótico, con puntuales y graves mordidas/estiramientos de cuerda MORBID ANGEL que imprimen diferentes aires; pero también construyendo una apropiada cama de parches para el ambiental solo de guitarra, evidenciando las formas del baterista David y su buen balance entre picardía y contundencia, por dibujar una idea tan plana como necesaria y haciendo parecer que la música se ciñe a su propia dinámica.

Muy diferente aspecto engloba a “Where Mortals Fear To Thread”, una especie de ceremonia a trote moderado pero bien ligero, que bucea a través del mute continuado y los trémolos a medio tiempo, conformando con ello un asalto diametralmente opuesto a la más genérica “Submerged In Vomit”, adelanto del disco cuyo vídeo está incrustado bajo esta misma review.

“Worship Death In All Its Forms” auna los pasajes blast de siempre con fuertes ataques de cuerda y ciertas amalgamas AUTOPSY, así como puntualísimos dejes Death/Thrash y una leve sección de corte progresivo que precede a un buen y enrevesado solo, muriendo el corte con sabor CARCASS y dejando claro que estos se las saben todas, a la hora de tomar “prestado” pero sin copiar.

“Curse Of The Red Moon” nace como un experimento de guitarra al estilo de las músicas de relajación, lejano, un engaño total ante la masacre que se avecina, perfecto engranaje de riffs y enmarañados entramados de notas, bases Grind y puro desquicio. Pero la nota gorda queda adjudicada al inicio de “Suscipe Mortem”, poco menos que increíble para un disco así, cortesía del guitarrista Gioele, autor de toda la música; y esta es una de las cosas que me alucinan de ciertas bandas, soplos de aire fresco y clara apertura en una medida lo suficientemente cauta como para no herir sensibilidades ni desvirtuar la esencia. Tras ello, nos encontramos con un corte muy exigente y de tez enrevesada, que al mismo tiempo incluye cabalgadas básicas y tétricas melodías depresivas. Mala baba para cerrar un disco tremendo.

Con las expectativas colmadas, qué más decir acerca de “Horrifying Nightmares…”. Este debut demuestra que más que un simple proyecto o reunión de colegas, aquí hay madera seca para la pira, talento y saber hacer del que posiblemente (y ojalá) obtengamos futuras entregas, ya que la entidad GRAVESITE revela formas de madurez y proyección más que evidentes. Junto a las escenas en blanco y negro que reflejan a los miembros del grupo mediante las fotografías interiores (autoría de Federica Sangiorgi), y un layout basado en la imagen de portada y que el mismo Dave Rotten ha montado para la ocasión, resulta un trabajo difícil de eludir, muy logrado y alejado de lo inminentemente previsible. Esto último es vital, pero también aclaro que hay que escucharlo de cabo a rabo para entender la frase, y no solo basarse en un simple adelanto cuya apariencia no defrauda pero tampoco muestra la gama de esencias de estos adoradores de tumbas y bandas de culto. Evidentemente, los nobles buitres han viajado en vano; hoy llegan tarde, pues como puede comprobarse, a semejante velocidad zombi-demonico-devoradora poco o nada quedará del macabro banquete, salvo huesos pelados y destellos de buen Death Metal.
Again Kill [8.5/10]
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