Graveland

In the Glare of Burning Churches   The early essence of the forming Graveland black metal sound rushes unselfconsciously into sawing terror riffs balanced with open phrases of staggered melody. Ripped throat vocals and primitive power chord riffing effect an aura of anticipation and suspended perception. In what it attempts, this music accomplishes in atmosphere and experience. SAMPLE: Through the Occult Veil [ MP3 ] (828k)

Epilogue   From a crypt of demo recordings beneath the previous Graveland unearth these hybrids of hardcore and black metal riffing in epic styles. The lush arrangements and melodic composition powerhouse of the future are visible even in these Discharge-influenced direct songs. SAMPLE: For Pagan and heretics blood [ MP3 ] (554k)

Carpathian Wolves   The classic style of Graveland breathes from this album of longer songs with melodic focus in structure. Keyboards, feathery shrieks of sear throated vocals, and mesmerizingly backward drumming drive home these anthems of loss and vengeance in an adventurous spirit from the past. SAMPLE: At the Pagan Samhain Night [ MP3 ] (335k)

Celtic Winter   Atmospheric war metal from the last days of the original black metal camp, these Poles are avowed fascists who pump out hymns of long melody and absurdist percussion. As orchestrators of mood and the sensuality of violence this band is unsurpassable. SAMPLE: The Night of Fullmoon [ MP3 ] (308k)

Thousand Swords   Descending into the necrotic black sound of sloppy assemblies of ambitious hymns, these dark symphonies entrance with natural-sounding rhythmic patterns and rising melodies exploring a poetry of themes in each song. Antagonistic and sonorous while direct to idea this music changed black metal with its presence (and the "moral" threat posed by banned symbols in interviews). SAMPLE: Born for War [ MP3 ] (400k)

Following the Voice of Blood   Clanging dissonant chording in songs inspired by folk music to convert the feast of textures that is Graveland to a thematic sound. Dynamic motion creates larger structure and development comes from the churning interplay of guitar and drums resonating with sweetly dissonant melody. SAMPLE: And the Horn was Sounding Far Away [ MP3 ] (757k)

Immortal Pride   Suddenly ear-friendly, simplified Graveland material using only one or two themes simultaneously states known themes and some others in the new style, as Burzum did with the first synth album. Created around mideval and nationalistic themes these majestic journeys draw attention to a mood of ancient values. SAMPLE: Sons of fire and steel [ MP3 ] (830k)

Impaler's Wolves   Re-creating two hymns from "Carpathian Forests" with the full instrumentation now at their hands, Graveland issue forth a return to a nihilistic yet meditative view of death and cruelty. Expansive duration and longer interweaving of themes makes for an enfolding listen. SAMPLE: In the Northern Carpathians [ MP3 ] (525k)

Creed of Iron   Placing new emphasis on the style of "Immortal Pride," Graveland return with rock-arrangement songs of soaring melody in the style of later Bathory, using keyboards neatly while applying custom harmonic technique. Nationalist and mideval ideals and themes permeate to awaken the multitudes. SAMPLE: White Beasts of Wotan [ MP3 ] (719k)