Cited
as one of the finest purveyors of extreme blackened doom to emerge from the UK
and having firmly left their mark with 2015’s self-titled and 2017’s “The
Light is from Below”, south coast quintet Grim Ravine, proudly reveal their latest
opus “It’s A Long Way Down, To Where You Are”. Their new four
track album spans a multitude of soundscapes from doom to black metal, melodic
to discord, it’s ethereal and haunting. “It’s A Long Way Down, To Where
You Are” is an album that could be summarised as one of positive
misery, a celebration of hopelessness and the futility of our joyous descent
into oblivion.
“It’s
A Long Way Down, To Where You Are” is out 27th March
2020 via Hostile Media and will be available on CD
and vinyl formats as well as on all major streaming and digital platforms
(preorder HERE). Today
at THE SLUDGELORD we’re
offering our followers the first taste of the album, with an exclusive stream
which you can check out below. I also fired some questions at the band
about the new album, the scene and their aspirations for the future. Turn
it up loud and watch your speakers die!!
SL: For those people unfamiliar with your
band, are there any bands on the scene past and present that you would use as a
reference point bands to describe your band, and who or what continues to
inspire you and push you to try new things?
There are no particular bands that spring to mind to be honest. At the start we
just wanted to play slow and heavy, but with every member adding their own
style in we naturally developed a more "blackened" edge that was ever
intended, but we have embraced this and have really been inspired by where
our combined creative processes will take us next
SL: What can you tell us about your new
record and where do you feel it sits within the context of current doom scene?
Probably
sits on its own in the corner, but I think anyone who has an interest in the
nastier side of doom/sludge or the more atmospheric ambient black metal should
find something to their taste
SL: Does anything spring to mind when you
think about the completion of your new record and how is the mood in the camp
at present?
We
have experimented a lot more on this release and bought in more of our personal
influences and we are very proud of the results. There have been a few delays
with the release that have been out of our hands so we are also very relieved
that finally people can hear it!
SL:What stands out as your overarching
memory from the recording sessions?
The
location that we recorded all the instruments in. This was at Old Chapel
Studios in Chichester and the building itself, as well as the larger recording
space, really created a different atmosphere during the process than we have
ever experienced before.
SL: With you new record in the bag, how
is your schedule shaping up over the next 12 months (Nb. this questions were
sent prior to the Coronavirus outbreak)?
Well
due to the current situation our live schedule is currently on hold, however we
have been working constantly while waiting for the album to drop and have
written a lot of new songs. It is most likely that we will be back in
the studio sooner rather than later. We'd ideally like to do a split
for our next release
SL:Finally, do you last words?
Just
to thank you, and anyone who checks out our album, for your time. The current
situation means that we do not have the chance to play live at this moment and
support our album release that way, but our stuff is available online if anyone
wants to check it out!
