Void of Silence is an act I used to hold in high esteem for their unique sound. Criteria Ov 666, for instance was an excellent release and their third, Human Antithesis, was pretty good as well. This band had a deeply apocalyptic vibe in their music, combine with robotic vocals, heavy guitar playing, walls of atmospheric keyboards and even some acoustic guitars.
Now, the times they are a changin' as Bob said. I'm not saying that all is lost, but the goodness got greatly diluted. First, a new singer joined the band. Brooke Johnson is not really bad; he just doesn't suit the apocalyptic décor. I can't help but thinking about The Wall while listening this disc, although David Gilmore was much more persuasive as a vocalist and guitar player. Nonetheless, The Grave of Civilization has its doomed moments. Indeed, this is still a heavy, depressive and pounding piece of music brought to you from Rome. A couple tracks are standing out here: "Apt.Epitaph" and "None Shall Mourn". The first one for being almost an instrumental composition that is filled with ambient keys, spacey leads and crunchy guitars, while the second has a totally suffocating and crushing mood, musical breaks and acoustic / electric riffing.
The Grave of Civilization is not Void of Silence at their best, although it contains some good intense moments.
Track listing:
1- Prelude to the Death of Hope
2- The Grave of Civilization
3- Apt. Epitaph
4- Temple of Stagnation (DFMI MMX)
5- None Shall Mourn
6- Empty Echo