GRAVEWURM – Blood of the Pentagram
Release Date: 2010Oct26 (US)
Label: Hells Headbangers
Rating: 1.5/5
Minimalist and sloppy, in the manner of Hellhammer, Gravewurm releases their seventh full-length, titled Blood of the Pentagram. The album art alone promises a dirty and ugly (dirgly) oldschool-sounding Black Metal album—though I think the artist could have tried a little harder. I mean c’mon, the title of the album is “Blood of the Pentagram” and the art is blood dripping from a pentagram. Anyway, let’s see how it pans out.
I love the simplicity of the music. It’s very raw and straightforward. The vocals are some of the raspiest I’ve ever heard—like crackling whispers. Parts of the album have that real old-school sound, but mostly, and this is my biggest complaint, the production is very inconsistent. The guitars sound great—very raw and gritty. The vocals need some work; it doesn’t sound like the vocalist is in the same room. Get some reverb on that shit for Mozym’s sake. And don’t get me started on the drum machine.
Okay, I’ll start—first, I have no problem with programmed drums. It worked for Quorthon, and it works for me. However, the problem with fake drums these days is that they sound too good. Placing drum tracks with high production value into a a low-fi mix makes it sound way out of place, especially when it doesn’t synch up in several places. It also feels awkward because they refuse to add drum fills or transitional effects, other than the occasional “cymbal” hit. Every song has that part where the drums are abruptly silenced for a measure or two.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that the guitars sound like they were recorded direct in a bedroom, and the singer didn’t want to disturb the neighbors (or mom), which explains the whisper vocals.
I’m being pretty harsh here. Normally I would say, “Hey, these dudes are raw and blasphemous! They don’t yet have the knack for recording, but maybe there’s some promise!” But Gravewurm has been making music since the early 90s. They should have their shit together. Also, listening to their more recent music from before this album, it pretty much sounds the same. There’s nothing new at all here.
“Two Coins for Charon” finally brings something different—synth keyboards. This is a welcome change. Not just because it mixes it up, but rather I feel it fills the uncomfortable gap between the drums and guitar. But alas, it’s just an instrumental. The album ends on a much better note, however; “The Sign Of A Dark Destiny” is just a plain-old good song: raw and evil, with more dynamic drumming than anywhere else on the album.
If it wasn’t for the fact that Gravewurm intends to be minimalist, I would say that Blood of the Pentagram would be unlistenable due to the production alone. But somehow, it’s just not that bad. Still bad—just not that bad.
Try: 7, 10, 12
01. Goat Command
02. Grave
03. Deeper Dungeons
04. Blood Of The Pentagram
05. Necromance
06. Brought Before The Altar
07. Infernal Devilry
08. Lycanthropic
09. Hordes Of Hell
10. Two Coins For Charon
11. In Praise Of Evil
12. The Sign Of A Dark Destiny
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