ALBUM REVIEW: The Festering Triad – Graveir
Ah, Australia. Sunshine, the outback, barbecues, Kangaroos…and black metal? Yes, apparently so. GRAVEIR have been busy carving themselves a space in the shadows of the down under scene for some time, and their third album is here to make the rest of us pay attention.
The Festering Triad is a sinister conjuration of dark prophecy, a nihilistic beast yearning to corrupt and consume us all. The band themselves describe it as “A harbinger of collapse – a soundtrack to a world burning from the inside out.” And that seems fitting both for their latest offering and our current times.
Melodramatics aside, this newest album has a healthy dose of that familiar old school sound created by bands like DARKTHRONE, a clear influence on the band, and enough evil to satisfy WATAIN devotees. The production is raw but not poor, so it feels authentic and vicious without being muddy.
A Line Of Blood Drawn In The Sand is a screaming open wound filled with bile and aggression, yet GRAVEIR also capture atmosphere and (dare we say) melody in a similar way to MGLA. This is especially evident on opener Lords Of Misrule and single A Futile Exhortation. Each song stands on its own but is a piece of a larger whole, a journey down to the depths of disease, corruption, and degradation led by this festering triad.
GRAVEIR have successfully built on what they started with their first two albums here. A satisfying mixture of doom-laden dirges, surprisingly catchy riffs, fantastic drum work and demonic vocals make them a band to watch out for. For those who are already aware of GRAVEIR, if you enjoyed the groove of their second album King Of The Silent World then this release will certainly not disappoint.
Some acts can feel as though they’re floundering by the third full length release, but GRAVEIR hit like an outfit that has found their way out, a band that has grown into its sound and is ready for battle. Fans of old school and modern black metal alike will find something to love here. It is more akin to traditional black metal than atmospheric, folk or symphonic, but there is plenty of material on The Festering Triad to appeal to almost everyone. GRAVEIR do not shy away from the raw, nor are they afraid to use their ability to create melodies that will stick in your head long after listening.
The Festering Triad is a call to the darkness inside us all, and surely an album that hails GRAVEIR all the way from down under, onto the global black metal stage, and deservedly so.
Rating: 9/10
The Festering Triad is set for release on May 29th via Apocalyptic Witchcraft.
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