Band : Griftegard
Album Title : Solemn.Sacred.Severe.
Label : Van Records - Candlelight Records
Distributor : Plastic Head Music Distribution
Release Date : 10/09/2009
Review : CD

Griftegård is the Swedish name for a graveyard sans a church. The Doom Metal band Griftegård was formed in Norrköping, Sweden in early 2005 by guitarist and lyricist Ola Blomkvist and guitarist Per Broddesson. Bass player Dennis Olsson soon joined the two and a year long search for the right drummer ended in the discovery of the talents of Jens Gustafsson. With Jens, singer Thomas Eriksson came into context and the line up was complete. Late 2007 saw the release of the Psalmbokvinyl EP in 500 copies... Composition of new gospels commenced, however slowly, and in the autumn Dennis Olsson left Griftegård and was replaced by Robert Hylén . Rehearsals intensified, resulting in the creation of Griftegård’s first full length album, Solemn. Sacred. Severe released by Van Records on CD, while Nachtgnosiswill realize the LP version. (myspace)

Griftegård’s full length debut album, Solemn. Sacred. Severe. follows the pattern of several doom-bands rising in the nineties such as Solitude Aeturnus, Warning, Dawn Of Winter, My Dying Bride opting for a fairly strong melancholic Candlemass/Sabbath-inspired doom style. Griftegård plays a very slow-paced doom that, for reasons that escape me, is almost irresistible. Some tracks have solos, nothing shredding or crazy, just well placed and adequate. The music needed to be complimented by vocals that fit, and these are as good anyone could hope for. The vocals, by Thomas Eriksson, while by no means mind blowing, have enough heart and sorrowful melody to make up for the melodramatic flair that can ruin this sort of music if it’s done improperly. The choir and the church organ pipes they hired for this recording fit in very well. This album is devoid of any hope and breathes a funeral atmosphere imbued with heavily laden depression. Probably the most noteworthy thing about the music is the fact that it remains so utterly majestic and intensely rich in dark atmosphere. This is particularly fitting, as depression is indeed an overwhelming emotion.

87/100

Peter.