Album
Type: EP
Date
Released: 13/5/2014
Label: Seventh Rule Recordings
Graves at Sea/Sourvein Split EP CD/LP track listing
1.GRAVES AT SEA – Betting On Black
07:43
2. GRAVES AT SEA – Confession 07:34
3. SOURVEIN – Drifter 03:49
4. SOURVEIN – Equinox 03:06
5. SOURVEIN – Follow The Light 05:31
2. GRAVES AT SEA – Confession 07:34
3. SOURVEIN – Drifter 03:49
4. SOURVEIN – Equinox 03:06
5. SOURVEIN – Follow The Light 05:31
Bio:
Two of
doom metal’s mightiest of feedback-laden riff worshippers – Portland’s GRAVES AT SEA and Cape Fear’s SOURVEIN – have united in sound,
mind and spirit for the ultimate split of earth-smoldering amplifier worship.
GRAVES AT SEA, whose contributions leave an eerie aura complete with tortured vocals, foreboding composition, and a general sense of dread, occupy Side A. Recorded by Billy Anderson, (Melvins, Sleep, Neurosis) “Betting On Black” and “Confession” finds the all-consuming sludge for which the band is notorious, flooding in amongst the tortured howls and shrieks of vocalist Nathan Misterek.
GRAVES AT SEA, whose contributions leave an eerie aura complete with tortured vocals, foreboding composition, and a general sense of dread, occupy Side A. Recorded by Billy Anderson, (Melvins, Sleep, Neurosis) “Betting On Black” and “Confession” finds the all-consuming sludge for which the band is notorious, flooding in amongst the tortured howls and shrieks of vocalist Nathan Misterek.
SOURVEIN, who’ve now existed for two decades of distortion, damage and total doom, solidify Side B. With three songs produced and recorded by Mike Dean of Corrosion of Conformity, these odes of heavy combine toxic riffs, grooves and just the right amount of psychedelic appeal.
Both
sides were mastered by Brad Boatright (Sleep, Beastmilk, Nails) at Audiosiege
Engineering and will be released via Seventh Rule Recordings on both CD and LP
on May 13th, 2014 during the two bands’ duel conquest touring Europe and prior
to their appearances at this year’s edition of the illustrious Maryland
Deathfest. The first pressing of the LP will be limited to 1000 copies and come
available on 160-gram black wax with an included download code. Recommended for
fans of Eyehategod, Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard, and all things loud and
fuzzy.
Review:
Portland based doom/sludge metal-ers (yes another
doom band from Portland, is there something in the water there?!) Graves at Sea
have teamed with fuzz ridden Sourvein for this five track down tuned offering.
Released on Seventh Rule Recordings, mastered by Brad Boatright (Sleep,
Beastmilk, Nails) and topped off with some incredible artwork, both bands
amalgamate to lay down their distorted riffs and twisted doom stylings,
resulting in a must have metal record.
After splitting in 2008 Graves at Sea thankfully
reformed in 2012, and returned revitalized in 2013 with new bassist Jeff
McGarrity and drummer Bryan Sours. With only a handful of releases, and their
only album being a re-issue of their demo ‘Documents of Grief’ they have gained
notable cult popularity. And it’s not difficult to see why, as within the first
minute of ‘Betting on Black’ I’m hooked. Nathan’s raspy tortured vocals are
something to behold, immersing a blackened tinge to the sludgy chug of the
guitar. As pessimistic and bleak as it is, the lyric ‘You lose every time.
You’re born into this world of shit and then you die’ is unforgettable and
works perfectly with the grimness of the vocals. Graves at Sea are truly
unique, and excel on the two tracks they offer to the split.
Sourvein are the more veteran of the two bands,
with three full lengths, three EP’s and seven splits under their belts.
Offering a more psychedelic approach to the doom metal paradigm, it perfectly
complements the blackened rhythms of Graves at Sea. Reverb aplenty,
particularly in ‘Equinox’, and some groove laden riffs, Sourvein showcase their
doom/sludge/psychedelic hybrid to great effect. The frequent change in pace
from slow dawdling riffs to the head banging rhythm sections injects a lively thrust
to the distorted haze.
Both bands are no strangers to the recording of splits;
therefore it was only a matter of time before these two put their musical
prowess on to the same release. While splits are certainly not about whose input
is better, Graves at Sea are a band I had vague familiarity with before this
release, but I’m now scouring the internet for more material, a fantastic
discovery.
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