Perhaps one of the most overlooked, classic Swedish death metal bands ever, Grave stands out among the absolute best of the genre’s early artists. Even their production has always been ahead of their time. So why haven’t they gotten the same respect as Entombed or Dissection? Well, they didn’t hit the mainstream as fast as Entombed, who sealed their reputation with Left Hand Path early on, and they didn’t have the blackened, crossover appeal of Dissection. Basically, maybe they were too death metal? While other artists changed their sound to adapt, Grave more or less kept doing what they were doing, well after a majority of their most important members left (other than Ola Lindgren). Now, they’re still playing the European concert circuit, etc, but not really afforded the same level of respect as other bands from their same humble beginnings.

This is all bullshit to me. Listening to Grave’s first demo Sick Disgust Eternal, or their first LP Into the Grave, I’m just at a loss as to why this band isn’t considered God-like. This is some furious, Discharge getting raped by Satan death metal. Amazing production, sick breakdowns, and the list just goes fucking on. I mean, really? Opeth gets attention (boring), and Grave gets nothing? If you’re into wack, cross-over death metal, or just need something more “transcendent” (barf), then this isn’t for you. This is for metalheads, not you. Metalheads, hail: GRAVE!

Grave’s Into the Grave is out now via Century Media

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DOWNLOAD: GRAVE – DEFORMED