What would the world have looked like if Black Metal hadn’t been created? Would everything be puppies and roses? Doubtful. Black Metal brought balance to the world of music and right now the world needs Black Metal more than ever; a voice of resistance and a boot to the chest of the moral majority, and a knife to the neck of unelected sycophants and peddlers.

Gràb occupy this space in these dystopian times. Kremess is their second full-length following Zeitlang, released in 2021. They play a lush, warm style of Black Metal that grips your attention from the get go.

That get go comes in the form of “Waidler”. It begins in grand form with some pounding drums and some chanting then it just explodes to a mid-paced crusher. The guitars have venom in their fangs. “Kremess” is the slow burning title track, until the 5:16 mark where it blasts further into this foray into dark, beautiful vistas of carnage and death. This comes with a Dimmu Borgir flourish in some spots and Enslaved/Borknagar in others. The way the tracks are arranged allows them to flow into each other like the river Styx.

Gràb is the work of Grànt – vocals & Bavarian poetry, Gnàst – guitars, bass, synthesizer, songwriting. There’s also guest musicians: Markus Stock – additional synths & choirs on several tracks, dulcimer on ‘Leere’, Thomas Helm – choirs on ‘Im Hexnhoiz’, ‘Deifeszeig’, Victor Bullok – guitar solo on ‘Dà letzte Winter’, Florian ‘Morean’ Magnus Maier – undertone vocals on ‘Waidler’, Komalé Akakpo – composed & played most dulcimer parts on several tracks, Peter Honsalek – composed & played viola on ‘Im Hexnhoiz’, Johanna Rehm – flute on ‘Vom Grab im Moos’.

The fantastic production recording by Markus Stock at Klangschmiede Studio E, Mellrichstadt (DE). Mix & Mastering by Markus Stock at Klangschmiede Studio E, Mellrichstadt (DE) with killer artwork by Benjamin König (Sperber Illustrationen),layout by Dan Capp.

There are moments where it feels like you’re soaring over destroyed vistas “Kerkermoasta” is a good example of this feeling, riding on some Lord Belial riffing while the song rolls along. There’s some killer keyboards that add to the air of menace the song creates, add a touch more of Dimmu Borgir-esque keys and when the fastest part comes rising through the speakers and it hits like a thunderstorm.

“Im Hexnhoiz (A Weihraz-Gschicht, Kapitel Oans)” is a beautiful track, slowly moving and powerful, Gràb sounds phenomenal on this track and “Vom Gråb im Moos (A Weihraz-Gschicht, Kapitel Zwoa)” continues with that slow but deadly attack with a massive wall of lush riffs and earthshaking drums. It picks up speed around the 4:44 mark and finally the blasts are discharged.

I love the way Gràb know how to keep you wanting more and  “Deifeszeig” is the razor-sharp answer to those prayers. Hitting an Immortal sized groove at the center of the track.  “Waldeinsamkeit” brings an instrumental respite that is as moving as it is beautifully heartbreaking and at 2:16 it’s a small light in this dark trip.

“Dà letzte Winter” is the 11:47 king of the show. It’s slow and precise, winnowing it’s path of destruction in a frostbitten Watain manner. It’s a magnificent song that tugs at your heart as it fades off on some light keyboards.

With Kremess, Gràb are on fire. Not the red fire of fury but a cool blue fire that burns in the heart of us all. There are influences of those aforementioned bands, and with all those guest musicians I mentioned earlier, this is a savage Black Metal assault that knows how to be gentle at the same time. Get out and Gràb it!

 

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