Krigsgrav/Stormcaller/Willowtip Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Dallas,  Texas's  Krigsgrav  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  form  of  blackened  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Stormcaller"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Willowtip  Records.

  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  clear  singing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of clean  playing  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  nature  and  philosophy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Krigsgrav  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  blackened  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Huntress  Of  The  Fire  Moon"  "None  Shall  Remember  Your  Name"  and  "Womb-Death-Dawn".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/Krigsgrav        

Krigsgrav/Fires in The Fall/Wise Blood Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Texas's  Krigsgrav  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  'Fires  In  The  Fall"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Wise  Blood  Records.

  Grim  voices  and  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  some  clear  vocals  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  music  also  mixing  in  touches  of  melodic  death  metal  at  times,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  poetic  and  philosophical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Krigsgrav  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "An  Everflowing  Vessel"  "In  Seas  Of  Perdition"  and  "Alone  With  The  Setting  Sun".  8 out  of  10.

  Pre-Order on Bandcamp:

https://krigsgrav.bandcamp.com/album/fires-in-the-fall

Krigsgrav on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krigsgrav

Krigsgrav on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krigsgrav_official/      

Krigsgrav/Waves Of Degradation/Bindrune Recordings/2016 CD Review

  Krigsgrav  are  a  band  from  Texas  that  plays  a  melodic,  atmospheric  and  nature  orientated  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Waves  Of  Degradation"  which  was  released  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Acoustic  guitar  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some nature  sounds  in  the  background  and  after  a  minute  the  music  starts  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  where  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  and  after  awhile  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  make  their  presence  known  on  the  recording.

  Growls  can  be  heard  in  the  music  at  times  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  it  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a raw  feeling  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  when  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they are  done  in  a  very  melodic direction.

  Clean  singing  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  acoustic  guitars  also  give  songs  more  of  a  folk  and  progressive  feeling  while  the  heavier  parts  bring  in  more  of  a  modern  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  violins,  mouth  harps,  post  rock  and  avant  garde  elements  and  there  is  also  a  brief  instrumental  track  before  closing  the  album  with  a  heavier  song  which  also  introduces  spoken  word parts  onto the  recording.

  Krigsgrav  creates  another  recording  that  sticks  to  the  atmospheric,  melodic  and  nature  orientated  black  metal  sound  of  previous  recordings  while  also  mixing  in  more  avant  garde,  progressive  and  folk  elements  this  time  around,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  existentialism  and  the  downfall  of  man  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Krigsgrav  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Son  Of  The  Stones"  and  "As  The  Color  Fades  From  the  Earth".  8  out  of  10.

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Krigsgrav Interview

 1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

-We have been promoting the new album as much as possible, we have booked a few shows for the latter half of 2014 (with hopefully more to come in the Fall), and we have started work on new material. We tend to work at a slow pace, as we never want to force out any music. We want it to flow naturally. 

2.You have a new album coming out in July, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction of the new recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past? 

-Each record is different from the previous one. No two recordings from Krigsgrav sound alike, in my opinion. The new record sounds to me like a natural progression from the previous album, Lux Capta Est. The music is more melodic, with a bit more complexity, but also has some of the darkest sounding riffs that Krigsgrav has ever produced. The variety song not only within the whole, but within each song amazes even me. We couldn't be more proud of what we have accomplished with the new album.

3.This is going to be the first album the band has released in 3 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time?

-When the last album, Lux Capta Est, was completed and self-released in 2011, Krigsgrav was still just a one-man band consisting of only myself as the sole member. It was not until January of 2013 that I was persuaded to convert Krigsgrav into a full live band (which of course turned out to be a very wise decision). So not much went on between mid 2011 and early 2013, but over the last year and a half, we have been very active playing shows and constantly writing and rehearsing the music that would eventually become the new album, The Carrion Fields.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album?

-The album itself is a concept album. We have an amazing intro to establish the tone and atmosphere of the album. Then each of the following songs represents a different season, starting with Spring. But the concept goes deeper than that. The lyrics draw attention to the parallels between the changing of the seasons and the changes that man goes through during his life cycle. So, in essence, the brighter seasons of Spring and Summer represent birth and growth/coming into maturity and youthful vitality, and then Fall and Winter represent the gradual decline of one's vitality and the eventual decay one undergoes towards the end of life. The final song essentially represents death and the uncertainty of what comes next. And to close the album we have an incredible outro with a slightly uplifting tone, which is meant to reflect the point that all things come full circle. From death comes new life, and the cycle continues on.

5.The band originally started out as a duo, what was the decision behind forming a full line up?

-We were a duo for a number of years, and the music was quite personal to me. I wrote and performed all music on the recordings, and honestly had no desire to share that music with anyone else in a live setting. But it all changed when I recorded "Lux Capta Est". That album was the best thing I had ever done under the name Krigsgrav, and I had no idea that so many others really loved the songs on that album. So, my friends and one-time bandmates J.Coleman and Corey Smith (we were once in a project called Valsgarde together) basically sat me down and told me that they loved the music on Lux Capta Est and really would love to play it live. After thinking it over, I agreed to give it a try as a full band, and it has been fantastic. I have definitely embraced the idea of Krigsgrav being a full band with each member contributing to the music and lyrics. I believe that this new combination of individual ideas and playing styles is what has made the new album so special.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

-Well, we decided early on that we would only play shows that we really WANTED to play, and to play shows that will help to bring Krigsgrav's music to the right audience. We didn't want to play shows simply for the sake of staying active. We all live quite far from one another, so and favorite show was playing we really couldn't play live all the time anyways. The shows are not frequent, but that just makes them more special for the fans that come to our shows. But I would say that our best show performing at a beer garden in Austin, TX. It was a show to celebrate the release of a new beer called Blakkr from our friends at Real Ale Brewing Company. It had a great crowd with a great atmosphere, and we have never performed better. I hope to have more performances like that in the future. 

7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

-So far we have a few shows planned, and will hopefully have more shows booked in the Fall. We would like to perform in some neighboring states, but thus far no tours are in the works. We are all still normal people with jobs, wives, and children, making it more difficult to go on the road for extended periods of time. We hope to land more festival gigs in other states or countries so we can spread our music to a broader audience, but that will come in time.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal? 

-It has been incredible. There have been people from far away countries buying/downloading our music and emailing me to tell me how much they love it and how surprised they are that we are an american band from Texas. So it has been a great response, especially to the music from the new album that we have released so far.

9.What is going on with the other musical projects these days that some of the band members are involved with?

-Heimar is currently working on new music for an EP that will be released this year. Our debut album, "Atavism" was digitally released in 2013 and has been well received thus far. Of Oak is keeping busy playing numerous live shows this summer. The drums are finished for our debut album, and hopefully guitar and bass tracking will commence later this summer. And Wes, our bass player, has been busy with his solo project, Midnartiis. I just helped him record his second album this past month, which will be released by the end on 2014.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

-We don't really determine the direction beforehand. I have always stressed to the others that we must write what we feel, regardless of what others may think of the finished product. We have demos of many new ideas recorded already, all sounding vastly different from one another. So, we'll take our favorite ideas and build them into new songs. But that is what makes this band great. We don't have any boundaries, and our music flows naturally because of that. When you write what you feel, there's no way you won't love the finished song.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

-I personally love Shoegaze. I have been listening to a lot of slower music like Slowdive, True Widow, and Glider. But as far as metal goes, I have been to listening to everything from the newest Alcest album to Thyrfing, and even more traditional Death Metal like the new Autopsy record. I listen to a lot of different stuff, but I try not to let it influence my music that I write. I also have an affinity for traditional folk instruments, so any kind of folk-based acoustic music is also something I really love to listen to.

12.Does Paganism play any role in the music?

-We do embrace the ways of old, and have a firm appreciation for our heritage, though I personally do not practice any sort of Paganism as a religion. I cannot speak for the other members beliefs. So, in essence, Paganism is important to me from a cultural standpoint and an ancestral standpoint, but that is as far as goes for me. I consider my love of nature and Paganism to be different things. 

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

-Traveling. Seeing other parts of the world is something that I love to do and recommend that everyone do if possible. The world can be a beautiful place, but you have to seek it out for yourself. I am also currently writing a novel, which I enjoy quite a bit, though I haven't found the time to work on it much in recent months.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

I will close by saying to the fans that we are very proud of the new album, "The Carrion Fields", and we know that you will enjoy it! Check it out on July 30th. Also, we want to show our thanks and gratitude to Naturmacht Productions for their endless support and willingness to release the new album. We are extremely happy to be working together with them and hope to continue this relationship well into the future! And if you haven't checked out the other bands on their roster, you absolutely need to! There are some really fantastic bands releasing some great new music.

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Krigsgrav/The Carrion Fields/Naturmacht Productions/2014 CD Review

  Krigsgrav  are  a  band  from  Texas  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic  and  nature  orientated  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review of  their  2014  album  "The  Carrion  Fields"  which  will  be  released  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Nature  sounds  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  after  the  intro  the  music  goes  into  a  heavier  direction  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  a  few  seconds  later  the  music  starts  going  into  a  more  fast  and  raw  black  metal  direction  along  with  some  grim  screams  that  also  utilize  some  deep  growls  at  times  while  also  keeping  a  very  melodic  and  atmospheric  sound.

  After  awhile  the  music  starts  alternating  between  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  utilizing  a  mixture  of  both  clean  and  heavy  parts  which  also  gives  the  music  a  more  progressive  feeling   and  the  fast  parts  never  loses  the  raw  atmosphere  and  you  can  also  hear  a  touch  of  post  black  metal  in  the  bands  musical  style  at  times  as  well  as  most  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  the  second  song  the  band  goes  into  a  more  acoustic  and  instrumental  direction  before  returning  back  to  a  heaver  direction  on  the  following  song  while  the  acoustic  guitars  still  remain  a  huge  part  of  the  bands  musical  arsenal  and  they  also  at  times  mix  in  ambient  and  atmospheric  elements  with  their  progressive  and  raw  approach  to  melodic  black  metal  as  well  as  a  small  amount  of  melodic  clean  singing  being  used  on  one  of  the  later  tracks  as  well  as  another  track  utilizing  a  small  amount  of  folk  instruments.

  Krigsgrav  plays  a  very  melodic  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  that combines  both  the  raw  and  progressive  elements  of  the  genre  together  while  also having  an  original  sound  of  its  own  and  displaying  a  great  amount  of  talent  and  skill  on  their  musical  instruments,  the  production  sounds  very  dark,  raw,  heavy  and  powerful  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  cycles  of  seasons  in  nature  and  the  parallels  between  this  and  the  life  cycle  experienced  by  all  living  things  on  this  earth.

  In  my  opinion  Krigsgrav  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  atmospheric  nature  orientated  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Words  Of  Aeolus"  "Ghosts  Among  the  Ashes"  and  "Cold  Wounds  Of  Virtue".  8  out  of 10.

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