Grue: Casualty Of The Psychic Wars

Having opened their account with a split-release with Word Of Unmaking, Boston Black Metal act Grue up the ante with a five track, thirty five minute blast which covers some interesting ground and a fair few styles. The introductory excursion of the album's title track expounds a hit 'em fast and often ethos, which is so fierce you almost believe the CD has stuck playing the same two second's worth of beats and roar. However flitting in between this convincing aural assault, Grue hit a groove, a fast unremitting groove, but a groove nonetheless. It is mighty stuff and a sound which shows maturity and diversity often lacking in this sphere. As is often the case in a band's early work however, things do become a little more obvious from there on, with "In The House Of Nemesis" a rampage of full on intensity and little subtlety, yet even here a few neat time changes and an altering vocal attacks do hint at more happening beneath the surface than initial impressions suggest.

Grue themselves are a duo, who between them cover mouth harp, bodhran, "upright" bass, drums, vocals, guitar and standard bass, and in fairness to Ghast and Barghast (I'm guessing they aren't their real names...) you can hear both the more expected and unexpected instruments as they are introduced across this release.

"They Who Walk Behind The Skies" does slow things down and head into unsettling atmospherics and though it intentionally takes a while to get up to speed, the effect is a cool change of mood. Possibly sitting this track earlier in the track listing, rather than closing with it, would have offered the variance needed to hit home even harder.

Casualty Of The Psychic Wars is a confident and impressive release that suggests that while Grue aren't quite the finished article, they may not be too far from something of real, intense, worth - especially if they can harness the less expected side of their sound. In the meantime, Black Metal fans should seek this out, as there is much to engage and revel in.

Track Listing
1. Casualty Of The Psychic Wars
2. Calling Down The Stars
3. Lament Of The Spheres
4. In The House Of Nemesis
5. They Who Walk Behind The Skies

Added: April 19th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Grue on BandCamp
Hits: 1883
Language: english

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