Grayceon: IV

Several years ago, I saw an all cello punk band perform at a local club. I don’t remember the band’s name, but I remember thinking they were pretty good. This was not long after Apocalyptica did all those Metallica covers. Grayceon isn’t as well known as Apocalyptica, but they are a terrific band that clearly knows what to do with a guitarist, a drummer, and a cellist. For 12 years, Grayceon has been honing their craft, developing music that is at once experimental, progressive, and comfortable. I call it “comfortable� because the band’s style always seems to make sense. It is never overly indulgent or gimmicky, just good songwriting with the occasional outbursts of strange power. Having said that, the music can be hard to describe. In the broadest sense, Grayceon is a nice mixture of progressive metal, sludge, doom, and experimental music. It is as likely to be mellow as it is fierce. The best way to experience Grayceon is simply to put on any of their albums and see what you think. I find it both relaxing and engaging.

I’ve mentioned the band’s use of the cello so much because it’s not terribly common in extreme music. There are exceptions, but most of them are relatively small compared to what Grayceon does with it. Fans of Agalloch, Om, and Neurosis have probably heard Jackie Perez Gratz guest spots with those bands anyway. She does a great job and I hope this new album will help her find some more listeners. She plays the cello with the kind of energy and power one expects in a metal band. She also has a strong voice. This is a solid album.

Track Listing:
1. Silver Moon
2. By-the-Wind Sailors
3. Scorpion
4. Let It Go
5. Slow Burn
6. The Point of Me
7. Pink Rose
8. Dreamers

Added: July 14th 2018
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1092
Language: english

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