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Zobrazují se příspěvky se štítkem#GRAVESFORGODS. Zobrazit všechny příspěvky

pondělí 16. února 2026

Recenze/review - GRAVES FOR GODS - Last Light Fades (2026)


GRAVES FOR GODS - Last Light Fades
CD 2026, Meuse Music Records

for english please scroll down

Bolest a smutek někdy přicházejí a vy nevíte proč. Křičíte do tmy, rozdrásáni do krve a máte pocit, že smrt je zase o kousek blíž. Chcete být sami, v temném koutě, v chladu. Utopit se v slzách, utéct do lesů, lehnout si do trávy a dívat se na krvavé mraky. Jakoby se vám vrátily staré noční můry, o kterých jste si mysleli, že už byly dávno spáleny. Netuším, kde se tyhle podivné stavy duše i těla berou, ale možná se jimi jen mysl brání současnému podivnému světu. Psát o muzice je pro mě svým způsobem terapií, krásným zážitkem. Pokaždé se snažím nejen opsat promo materiály, ale spíše se pokusit svými slovy vyjádřit, jak na mě hudba působí.

O australských GRAVES FOR GODS jsem ještě nepsal, kapela letos přichází teprve se svým druhým dlouhohrajícím albem. Doporučuji vám, abyste si pořídili i to první, z roku 2022 ("The Oldest Gods"). Je také po okraj narvané smutkem, umírajícími dny i nekonečnou beznadějí. Pánové hrají klasický doom death metal a umí to velmi dobře. Koneckonců, posuďte sami. Doporučuji chladnou a temnou místnost, klid a plné soustředění. Teprve potom síla téhle nahrávky ( i té předchozí) vynikne nejvíce. 


Někdy zkrátka bývám rád sám. Většinou si otevřu nějakou dobrou knihu, pustím muziku jako hrají tito Australané a užívám si jednotlivé melodie. Kývám se do rytmu, obdivuji riffy, vokál, dunivé bicí. Vše tu sedí perfektně na svých místech. Nikde nic nepřebývá, ani nechybí. Album je obdařeno velmi dobrým zvukem. Pravdou sice je, že pánové nepřinášejí do tohoto stylu nic nového, ani převratného, ale rozhodně se nejedná jen o dobře odvedené řemeslo. Naopak, z jednotlivých skladeb i z celku cítím odhodlání, opravdovost, reálný smutek a trápení. Doom metal je velmi těžká disciplína a platí u něj více než kde jinde, že musí být zahraný od srdce, autenticky, uvěřitelně. Musí z něj doslova odkapávat pochmurné nálady a musí vám u něj tuhnout krev v žilách. GRAVES FOR GODS tohle všechno umí a přidávají ještě spoustu věcí navíc. Zajímavé postupy, pasáže, které se mi pokaždé zadřely hluboko do mozku i do podvědomí. Jsem moc rád, že jsem tuhle smečku na svých toulkách podzemím potkal, jinak bych byl ochuzen o vskutku niterný zážitek. Neznám nic lepšího, než sníh křupající pod nohama, dlouhou cestu před sebou, tichý les, soumrak, lesní hřbitov, návrat domů, knihu o bolesti. Ano, jsme jedné krve, já i tahle kapela. "Last Light Fades" mi nejdříve připomínalo hada, plazícího se u mých nohou. Ten mě postupně uhranul a dostal se mi do hlavy. Zmínit musím i velmi povedený, chladný a dobře čitelný zvuk, stylový motiv na obalu i texty, které v sobě mají hloubku. Bolest a smutek někdy přicházejí a vy nevíte proč. Křičíte do tmy, rozdrásáni do krve a máte pocit, že smrt je zase o kousek blíž. Chcete být sami, v temném koutě, v chladu. Utopit se v slzách, utéct do lesů, lehnout si do trávy a dívat se na krvavé mraky.  Pochmurný, smutný doom death metalový obřad, u kterého vám ztuhne krev v žilách! Vaše mysl bude rozdrásána do krve!


Asphyx says:

Pain and sadness sometimes come and you don't know why. You scream into the darkness, torn to pieces, and you feel that death is a little closer again. You want to be alone, in a dark corner, in the cold. To drown in tears, run away into the woods, lie down in the grass and watch the bloody clouds. It's as if the old nightmares you thought had been burned away long ago have returned. I have no idea where these strange states of mind and body come from, but perhaps they are just the mind's way of defending itself against the strange world we live in today. Writing about music is a kind of therapy for me, a beautiful experience. I always try not just to copy promotional materials, but rather to express in my own words how the music affects me.

I haven't written about the Australian band GRAVES FOR GODS yet; this year, the band is releasing only their second full-length album. I recommend that you also get their first album from 2022 ("The Oldest Gods"). It is also filled to the brim with sadness, dying days, and endless despair. These guys play classic doom death metal and they do it very well. Anyway, judge for yourselves. I recommend a cool, dark room, peace and quiet, and full concentration. Only then will the power of this recording (and the previous one) come into its own. 


Sometimes I just like to be alone. I usually open a good book, put on some music like this Australian band plays, and enjoy the individual melodies. I sway to the rhythm, admire the riffs, vocals, and thumping drums. Everything fits perfectly in its place here. Nothing is superfluous, nothing is missing. The album has a very good sound. It's true that these gentlemen don't bring anything new or revolutionary to this style, but it's definitely not just a job well done. On the contrary, I feel determination, authenticity, real sadness, and suffering in the individual songs and in the album as a whole. Doom metal is a very difficult discipline, and more than anywhere else, it must be played from the heart, authentically, believably. It must literally drip with gloomy moods and make your blood run cold. GRAVES FOR GODS can do all this and add a lot more. Interesting techniques, passages that always stick deep in my brain and subconscious. I am very glad that I met this band on my wanderings through the underground, otherwise I would have been deprived of a truly intimate experience. I know nothing better than snow crunching underfoot, a long journey ahead, a quiet forest, twilight, a forest cemetery, returning home, a book about pain. Yes, we are of the same blood, me and this band. At first, "Last Light Fades" reminded me of a snake slithering at my feet. It gradually captivated me and got into my head. I must also mention the very well-done, cool and clear sound, the stylish cover art, and the lyrics, which have depth. Pain and sadness sometimes come and you don't know why. You scream into the darkness, torn to pieces, and you feel that death is a little closer again. You want to be alone, in a dark corner, in the cold. Drown in tears, run away into the woods, lie down in the grass and watch the bloody clouds. A gloomy, sad doom death metal ritual that will make your blood run cold! Your mind will be torn to shreds!


tracklist:
1. Perpetua Fell 
2. The Dark Age 
3. Unholy Ghost 
4. Covered in Blood 
5. Last Light Fades 

band:
Jak Shadows – Vocals
Ryan Quarrington – Drums
Matt Spencer – Resonant Strings



A few questions - interview with doom death metal band from Australia - GRAVES FOR GODS.


A few questions - interview with doom death metal band from Australia - GRAVES FOR GODS. 

Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play etc.? 

Matt – Hi! We are Graves for Gods. Purveyors of all things Doom, from Adelaide in the South of Australia, since 2020. We consist of three members: Jak on vocals, Matt on guitars and bass, Ryan on drums. In 2022 we released our debut album‚ The Oldest Gods, on Sleeping Church Records, and now in 2026 we‘ve released its follow up, Last Light Fades, on Meuse Music. 

Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering? 

Matt – The vocals were recorded at Jaks home, the drums at a local recording room, while the rest was recorded, produced and mixed by myself at my home studio. Mastering was by Dav at Iridium audio. We’re thrilled with the end result. Ideally it sounds neither modern nor dated. Not processed, but not raw. We’re not trying to copy any single sound. I think we got close to these aspirations. 


How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)? 

Matt – Initially 300 cds (i think), plus digital via bandcamp and the streamers . If there’s demand we will work with Meuse Music on further formats. Hopefully so! We’d love this album on vinyl. It would be great to see that cover art at 12 inches. 

Who is the author of the lyrics and how were they created and about what do the lyrics deal with? 

Jak - Lyrics are by me and the song titles are chosen as a band. The lyrical approach of Graves For Gods thus far has remained close to the name of the band and centred around worship. Like most creative processes, much time was spent thinking over what to write about and how to say it. It wasn’t easy to cover such a wide history of events in the span of only 4 songs. As with “The Oldest Gods” there is a start and an end to the story of this album. Once again, the lyrics deal with the rise and fall of an empire, at times viewed through a large overarching lens and at other times through the eyes of its denizens. In its most concise sense, it’s a story about the Roman Empire. Perpetua Fell sets the scene that tackles the scale of the rise of Rome from fable to the moment the Roman Emperor realised the need to change their beliefs and begin engineering Christianity as we know it in the

West. Dark Ages in concept was to about European Medieval life and the ensuing Crusades however “Covered in Blood” covered themes of war so Dark Ages lingered a while in a land of plague, power and control. Unholy Ghost kind of sums up the ambitious nature of colonisation and belief of a dream. Last Light Fades really speaks for itself, the album cover depicts themes of shame, disgrace and the loss of faith.


Who created the logo of the band, and who took care of the graphics and the website? What about you and social networks? Do you consider these things important?

Jak - The logo was created by me, which was inspired by the Sumerian beliefs, the symbol of Anu is incorporated in the sky, encompassing the trees & earth - the connection between earth and sky. We don’t have a website as such but we understand the importance of having an online presence or footprint so to say. You can currently find us either on bandcamp, our labels website or our Facebook page that we operate ourselves. All the graphics on these sites are chosen by either us or Meuse Records, depending on where you visit.

Which label did you choose for releasing your album and why this label? Are you satisfied by how your label represents you and takés care about you?

Matt - Meuse Music has been our partners for the CD release of Last Light Fades. We sought them out as they are of course experts in the Doom genres. We are absolutely very happy with how they’ve approached everything. Strong communication, plenty of options and very few demands. Very impressed.


Which bands do you idolise and where do you get your inspiration?

Jak - From a death doom perspective, its all the early UK Doom but by no means limited to those shores. Inspiration will come from so many places, could be a simple as going for a walk in a gorge. I tend to write most of the lyrics while walking outdoors.

Matt – We listen to a crazy amount of different music, but for Graves for Gods, it’s absolutely a mix of the early UK Doom legends, plus everything from the great funeral and stoner doom acts, more spacious and progressive acts like Third and the mortal and of course Black Sabbath themselves.

Did you send your record to some Labels - which are the labels? How was the response?

N/A

How many gigs have you played? Which type of gigs do you prefer, whether it's (clubs or festivals) and which of your performances would you consider as the best?

Matt – Sadly we are currently a recording only band. If the opportunity arises for something special, we would definitely be open to a select few live performances. But currently no.


What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?

Matt - We are currently writing album 3, and exploring some other material for a series of bandcamp exclusive releases. Our primary focus is to just keep recording the music we love and sharing it with people who need it. Always releasing on physical media where possible. Hopefully our future is one of endless inspiration and musical prolification.

How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?

https://gravesforgods.bandcamp.com/ is the best option please.

Thanx for the interview.

Matt - You’re very welcome. We’re grateful for your time.

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