ALBUM REVIEW: Director’s Cuts – To The Grave
Australia’s TO THE GRAVE have been a strong cult favourite within the scene for many years now. While they haven’t reached the heights of some of the other acts in the genre, their brand of ethically charged noise has slowly but surely made them deathcore darlings. Their lyrics are generally based around the brutal treatment of animals and the ongoing ruination of the world caused by us flawed humans. Such dismal yet important themes need to also have a dark and depressing soundtrack to accompany them.
Director’s Cuts builds on their previous works, but this time expands on their sound. While before the band’s music would only feature moments of reprieve here and there, on their latest album the band have allowed the tracks to come up for air and breathe a little before inevitably forcing them back into the depths of despair. There is a bigger emphasis on groove and memorability. Each track has its stand-out moments which makes Director’s Cuts the band’s best offering to date.
The intro track Warning Shot is just that. At first, it ominously creeps up before it hits you square in the face. The band want you to know you are not safe going forward. There’s a Red Dot Sight pointed right between your eyes for track two, which features a hardcore bounce while keeping that deathcore chug. The chainsaw starts to rev and it’s edging ever closer to your limbs as you feel the panic set in, only managing to feel hope for a split second in the track’s huge melodic chorus. Even though the chaps are vegan, there’s plenty of meat here. The bends and pick scrapes in Full Sequence are enough to twist your insides while the disgustingly heavy breakdown hits with a category-five force and gives you that happy but sick feeling from a coaster drop.
The vocals throughout are top-drawer. Dane Evans is one of the best in the game and uses his arsenal of voices to terrify and shock. This music is supposed to make you question your choices and open your eyes and his commanding snarl is enough to make you promise you’ll change your ways. He sounds unhinged as he spits like he’s got a mouthful of bees, stinging you with every note until it penetrates your soul. The final moments of B.D.T.S are unsettling to say the least as his vocals are layered up for emphasis.
Speaking of unsettling, the opening of Found Footage sees Evans channel his inner David Gunn as he speaks with gritted teeth until the portal to hell opens once more. But this track features some really interesting slower moments that prove that TO THE GRAVE have some tricks up their sleeve. It stands out from the other tracks but in the best possible way. It rolls through like a tank approaching the front line, crawling with unmatched power.
Going back to the groove, it would be hard not to mention Protest And Sever with its infectious riffs and tasteful solo. This one is sure to get the masses bouncing in unison during their energetic live shows. The same goes for the single Axe Of Kindness. Just like Red Dot Sight, it finds its roots in hardcore but swings with a deathcore fist. The guitar work from Jack Simioni and Luke Ringin is impeccable here as they trade off pure fire throughout. Cut Off The Head is a late album highlight and features an interesting call out with the band claiming, “Deathcore is dead“. Many people have stated that the genre has been put to rest, but as TO THE GRAVE have shown on Director’s Cuts, that is certainly not the case. They have improved almost every aspect of their sound on this album.
After the last track comes to its conclusion you will ultimately be left a shell of a human. This album is nasty. It’s designed to be. It’s hard-hitting in more ways than one and it’s easy to see just how passionately the band feel about the themes on display here. Director’s Cuts is the band’s best work to date. While 2022 was owned by LORNA SHORE, there’s a strong argument here for 2023 to be the year of TO THE GRAVE.
Rating: 9/10
Director’s Cuts is set for release on February 24th via Unique Leader Records.
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