Founded in
2016, Graceless quickly carved a place for themselves within the global
death metal underground, building their identity on muscular songwriting,
mid-tempo density, and a signature blend of doom-laced heaviness. Drawing
influence from classic names like Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, and Death,
the Dutch quartet forged ahead with a sound as rooted in sorrow as it is in
sonic demolition. With each release, the band has grown more self-assured and
more resolute in crafting music that resonates in both emotional weight and
battlefield-like force. Their fourth album, “Icons Of Ruin,” issued via
Listenable Records, solidifies that trajectory, further expanding their sound
without abandoning its core identity.
“Icons Of
Ruin” presents Graceless in complete command of their style. The
production, recorded at Soundlodge Studios, grants the album a colossal
presence—dense yet articulate, brutal yet structured. Every instrument punches
through the mix, particularly the drums and guitars, which move with cohesion
and forward momentum. The tone is both crushing and mournful, an ideal vehicle
for the themes addressed throughout the album.
From the opening assault of "God Shines In Absence" to the haunting final tremors of "Resurrection Of The Graveless," the album sustains a weighty atmosphere. The songwriting remains compact and direct, even in longer tracks like "Beneath Starless Skies," which offers space for atmosphere without straying from Graceless' rhythmic foundation. Riffs remain the backbone, with Björn Brusse's lead work adding melody in ways that enhance rather than overtake the core structure. Remco Kreft’s vocals remain in that gravelly sweet spot between wrath and sorrow, carried by tight rhythmic interplay from Jasper Aptroot and Marc Verhaar.
Where
earlier albums often balanced their aggression with minimalistic pacing, “Icons
Of Ruin” features more layered arrangements. Still, everything feels written
with the stage in mind. Tracks like "Night Of The Slain" and
"Hardening Of The Heart" hit with that mid-tempo groove that turns
live venues into war zones, while others such as "Ungodliness"
maintain speed and conciseness without losing depth.
The album’s character is heavy, solemn, and martial. Its pacing is consistent, resisting bloat and indulgence. Even with ten tracks, the runtime flows well, each song justifying its place. There’s no need for interludes or ambient distractions—“Icons Of Ruin” is a direct statement of intent from a band who knows exactly what they want to do and how to do it.
“Icons Of
Ruin” doesn’t depend on stylistic flash or studio gimmicks. It’s built on
cohesion, tone, pacing, and purpose. Graceless sounds seasoned and
resolute, the sound of a band whose identity is firmly in place. This album
doesn’t aim for reinvention but instead refinement—a further step into the
bleak grandeur they’ve been sculpting since their inception.
Score: 8.2
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