Gravefields are an international death metal band and this is their third album, (second with this name).
I really enjoyed 2019’s Embrace the Void, so was pleased to see Tetragrammaton appear. Containing 49 minutes of new extreme metal material, this is a record that many a fan of death/black metal would do well to pay attention to.
Gravefields play an expansive form of death metal. Taking influence from the Swedish style of heaviness, but then broadening this with epic enrichments and shades of black metal, Tetragrammaton is both ferocious and immersive. For a rough idea of what to expect on Tetragrammaton, mix together elements of bands such as Behemoth, Sulphur Aeon, Watain, and Dismember into a lethal cocktail of mystical manufacture.
Forcefully delivered, Tetragrammaton is an impressive and striking beast. The songs are well-formed and realised, taking their influences and wielding them like weapons as they crush the listener with both immediate violence and rewarding substance.
The songs are well-written, benefiting from a variety of good ideas and structural dynamics. The music is intricate and nuanced, despite how brutal it can also be. There’s a balancing act between different extremes on display almost constantly. Aggression is offset against atmosphere, or complexity against savage brutality, for example. There’s also an interplay between the churning rhythm guitars and the twisting melodies that works really well.
The singer puts on a great performance throughout Tetragrammaton. His depth of competency in a range of extreme metal vocal styles is impressive, and he complements the accomplished music very well.
This is a very well-crafted album of professional extreme metal. Gravefields have produced a thoroughly enjoyable album that has many depths to explore and experiences to savour.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 