Review : GRAVES OF VALOR – “Salarian Gate”

Graves of Valor – “Salarian Gate”
Released May 26, 2009 on Relapse

Apparently Job for a Cowboy are releasing two albums this year. Seriously, though, this album sounds identical to the aforementioned group. Not only are they stylistically similar, but they also have the strange interludes (6 and 9) that JFAC used on “Genesis”. To make things even closer, this album is also fairly conceptual, being based on the fall of the Roman Empire. There are a few minor things that differentiate them, however. Graves of Valor incorporate an Electric Wizard-esque method of making all vocals distorted, just adding to the already aggressive screams and growls (which sound just like JFAC’s Jonny Davy). The drums are also not quite as hectic. Track 11 is similar to death-doom/gothic metal bands like Anathema or My Dying Bride. The album has very very good flow, but sonically, it’s not very memorable. It’s a good formula, but there really isn’t much that stands out in your mind.

FCC: 7
Try 2, 3, 8, 10, *11*

01. Salarian Gate
02. Suffocation of the Last King
03. Pesilence
04. Bridles of Incitatus
05. Sic Semper Tyrannis
06. Letter on the Blind
07. To Breathe Blood
08. The Clever Ape
09. Diderot
10. Locusta
11. No Gods Left

Rating: