Reviewed by Paul S Ganney

Indiana-based Grave Robber have created a fast and furious punk concept album - aside from the opening, very atmospheric instrumental scene setter, it's high speed, high energy all the way. The band are solid: riffing where they need to, power-chording and pounding where required, punctuating the chops in the rhythm accurately and together creating a solid wall of noise that manages to be musical and uplifting without being overpowering. Vocally it's mostly sung but there is a very dramatic/theatric tone to the lead singer's voice that conjures up the Damned and Bauhaus. Overall the feel is of the Sex Pistols with Meat Loaf on lead vocals (a combination I found really good). The backing vocals are mostly chanted and fit the themes well, all riding above the band somehow without sounding like they're fighting to be there. The tracks are all short (four minutes is an epic for this band) and all last exactly as long as they need to - a credit to the songwriting on display. They're not a shouty band, despite the punk label. The chorus to "Lips Of Blood" is a good example of this, being very singable (although I doubt Cliff will be covering it any time soon). I've not enjoyed a punk album so much for ages.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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