Some bands are subtle in their chosen influences; some wear their influences on their sleeves. Australian trio Graves For Gods, have their influences carved into their fucking chest and mope around topless for the whole world to see.

Their influence? The Peaville doom trinity: My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, and Anathema– of course, classic/versions of all three. Moody, but melodic, death metal-based emotive doom metal with layers of solos and leads, delivering crushing, loping throes of sadness along with deep, growled vocals and pained howls.

The 5 song, 40-minute affair tells the story of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire from its birth up to modern times, and delivers all the tropes and influences from the above bands’ early discography, sans any clean vocals.

The dual guitar work of Matt Spencer and Jak Shadows is clearly an ode to Andrew Craighan (My Dying Bride), Daniel Cavanagh (Anathema), and Greg Mackintosh (Paradise Lost), with moments that imbue As The Flower Withers, Serenades, and Draconian Times massively.

Just listen to the gorgeous strains of the second track, “The Dark Age,” or the crumbling plod of standout “Covered in Blood,” and it will take you back to the early/mid 90s instantly. Even a short, wondrous acoustic/ whispered number, “Unholy Ghost” recalls Anathema’s more delicate introspective moments.

The title track ends the album with the same influence, but maybe leans a little into the Peaceville trinity’s mid/later era hues with a more dreamy/goth rock lurch and less crumbling death/doom prose, but still no clean croons (though there’s some semi-howled clean screams and some whispers). But it doesn’t stop the album from being an excellent journey down memory lane to a style and era that was truly influential.

[Visit the band's website]

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