THE SHALLOW GRAVES
Promo Teaser 2015
The Shallow Graves yet held themselves out as worthy inheritors of the 1990s UK gothic sounds in October 2013 by their debut full-length release "Smoke-Screen For Your Broken Dream", conjuring up the lively, danceable spirit that rocketed bands like Rosetta Stone to fame, while delving deeper than them in the gloomy rock of The Sisters Of Mercy. Consisting of Julian Shallow (ex-Velinas) and Chris Moribund (ex-Madre Del Vizio, Jessica's Ascension, Moribund Thirteen A. D.), the German duo will release its second album over the course of 2015 and, to the light of the 3 advance tracks I've heard, they seem determined to put the focus on the listener's perception, slowing down the electronic pulses for an intimate darkness to flood in, based on a more intricate, thrilling intertwine of guitars and vocals. "Dirt And Dust" is probably the clearest statement in this regard. It’s a dense, chilling Goth Rock downtempo, built on dripping drum beats, wistful, pensive baritones and screaming, memorable guitar solos that remind me much of those from Gregor Mackintosh (Paradise Lost). Here and there, some shimmery, echo-drenched nylon string thrums imbue the song with a profound sense of longing. For their part, "Light Blinds" and "Drawn Blades and Such" are Goth Rock in its most classic form, with bass and machines providing a groovy groundwork, beneath Moribund’s piercing set of riffed, plaintive harmonies and Julian’s deep, sober - yet emotional - and catchy singing. Thus, these tasters reveal a promising shift towards a slightly darker, more meaningful and balanced songwriting and seem deliberately unadorned and focussed on their mournful harmony, noticeably less computerized but keeping intact the band's vintage gothic verve.
Review by Billyphobia
- 01. Light Blinds
- 02. Dirt And Dust
- 03. Drawn Blades And Such