At The Graves – “Solar”

Post-Metal trio At the Graves started in 2008 as a solo project for multi-instrumentalist Ben Price, who handled all instruments and vocals on their first two EPs, aptly titled I and II. Since then, Price recruited bassist Andy Schmidt and drummer Joe Jacklin (his former band mates in the Thrash outfit Revolta) to record Solar, which marked the first time At The Graves worked in-studio as a proper band.

Now here we stand, at the beginning of a seven song journey rich in dissonant riffing, hypnotic atmospheres and doomy tempos. Although they aren’t reinventing the wheel or straying too far from their obvious influences (Neurosis, Today Is the Day, among others), on Solar the trio showcases genuine signs of having an original voice. Just listen to the pseudo Native-American tribal drumming on “A Shield Left to the Unknown” and “Sol’s Lament”, the incendiary quality of the guitar solo on “Magentar” or Price’s cathartic vocals, especially on “Wildfire Lit”. This should give you an idea of how this band is on the verge of reaching a spot on their own, among the leaders of the genre.

Experimental, eerie, epic and depressive, At The Graves’ new music will surely garner the band plenty of positive attention from metal press and fans alike. If they go further on their musical quest and detach even more from the shadow of their predecessors, future results will be unpredictably pleasant. In the meantime, Solar sounds like the soundtrack for those on the brink of a mental meltdown, no doubt about it.

Track Listing:

01. Intro 01:40
02. A Shield Left to the Unknown 05:51
03. Wildfire Lit 10:25
04. Magnetar 03:34
05. Prominence 05:29
06. Heard Phantoms 05:07
07. Sol’s Lament 11:35

Run Time: 42:21
Release Date: February 16, 2012

Check out the album: ‘Solar’