GRAVERIPPER
GRAVERIPPER “Seasons Dreaming Death”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! GRAVERIPPER from Indianapolis lives up their name and rips like a buzzsaw through 10 tracks of raging thrash metal tinged with blackness. This is right up there with ENFORCED as an example of no-bullshit thrash that never lets up.
The secret to GRAVERIPPER’s success is the same as it is for ENFORCED. Keep things stripped down to the bone and focused on the essence of pure thrash metal….speed and anger! Where the Indy fiends differ is that they tossed bits of icy black metal melody into the stew. As the album moves on, the black metal influences subtly increase, until the last three tracks exploit the darkness to the fullest. But on every track, speed prevails!
The opening cuts “Into The Grave” and “Ripped And Torn Apart” are a great mix of both American and German thrash styles, based on mean riffing that is easy to process and get into. “Divine Incantations” and the title track start to throw some very dark hooks into the mix...there’s a certain resemblance to GOATWHORE in GRAVERIPPER’s approach, especially in the vocals, and that’s not a bad thing at all. By the time we get to “Red Skies” and “Only Coldness”, the temperature has dropped and freezing melody merges with manic mosh.
If this album had the same production as ENFORCED’s “War Remains”, it would be right there with it. As it is, the mix Is more than adequate but a little on the dry side. I look forward to more morbid violence from GRAVERIPPER in the years to come!