Grave Heresy - Incineration Victory

“Incineration Victory” is the debut album from Sweden’s Blackened Death Metal group, Grave Heresy. Walking a fine line between the genres, but leaning more towards the blackened side of things alongside groups like Werewolves. Listeners should expect a sound that is a mix of Marduk meets Hate Eternal for mostly fast, blistering songs with that Thrash inspired touch of the 90s but clear production alongside Satyricon percussive thunder from the earlier years. 9 tracks of subtly Christraping metal that is still enjoyable to hear and doesn’t quite wear on the ear halfway through the album like certain Deicide albums tend to do. While the band doesn’t bring anything specifically that sets them apart from their peers, they create enough of a ruckuss to demand attention.

After a brief intro a track like ‘Attenuating the Flesh Threshold’ sets the tone for the album. It is fast with no remorse- the production is somewhat fuzzy but not Darkthrone fuzzy- and the way both guitarists under the monikers Barbed Garrote Operator and Thermonuclear Incantations Ritual Master trade blows and solos demonstrate this band has no mercy to give. Their sound is relentless as their lyrics, and will appeal to fans who like gritty fast music similar to Profanatica or even earlier Sargeist. While the bass by Ox is lost in the storm a bit, surprisingly so are the vocals at times from drummer Vengeful Hazy Vomiter who rasps and snarls in Marduk fashion while his drumming is reminiscent of that of Profanatica mixed with Hate Eternal. It is loud, sometimes a bit too much, but the tone is just right. Other tracks like ‘Incineration Victory’ though aren’t all endless nuclear assaults on the ears. Grave Heresy also know how to slow things down a bit and inject subtle groove moments, almost Doom knuckle dragging ones like what Archgoat can do (though they tend to lean more towards the Death Metal side of things vs. Black Metal). Tracks like these are more haunting, yet don’t lose their ferocity at all.

It is clear that the band wanted the guitars and drums to be the focus of the album, and sometimes surprises happen here and there like the weird sliding effect on ‘Summoning of Sulphurist Hordes,’ but listeners should mostly expect the tracks to be fast, fast, fast with little room for atmosphere, samples, or melodic moments. While going hard all the time does pigeonhole Grave Heresy into a little bit of a corner, those who appreciate the kind of artists that Godz ov War usually sign will be neck deep and headbanging from the band’s unapologetic approach to Metal. While slightly nihilistic and nowhere even close to beautiful, “Incineration Victory” delivers stomper after stomper that is sure to stir the pit as the band members use their monikers for a bit of fun with ridiculously long but clever names and a skill that should not be ignored. Those who feel that Metal should still be in the late 90s style will appreciate the direction that Grave Heresy is going in as they try to merge ‘old school’ with ‘new school’ by sticking to the tropes that work to try and create a name for themselves. It is a bit of a one sided coin, but works well in the listeners favor as Grave Heresy prove they don’t need an overly lush soundscape to attract its fans when sometimes a ‘bare bones’ sound works too.

3.5 / 5 STARS