Limited to 500 copies. Comes with lyrics insert.
Innovation has not been new in black metal since the 2000s as many bands are breaking the shackle and experimenting with their sound. Grá is one of those bands, hailing from Stockholm, Sweden. The band was formed by the members of Domgard and Cursed 13, and known for their eerie, melodic black metal with a delicate conceptual approach on their music. Grá, prior to the release of their final full length album, is now going for a collaboration with American black metal band Gnosis of the Witch. Unlike the loads of other USBM acts, Gnosis of the Witch has more perplexed and primitive sound. These two shadowy black metal hordes are about to release a split EP between them on 27th of April, 2015. The split EP is going to be released on 7’’ vinyl format on Iron Bonehead Productions. Grá commands the side A of the 7” with the track ‘Valitus ja Kaipuu’, giving a calm start accompanied by an acoustic intro. The song then breaks into slow, menacing black metal riff. The overall tempo on this side is doom-ish, with a thick guitar tone playing throughout. The rhythm section is outstanding, the best example to this statement could be heard around 2:18. What keeps the music of Grá on this split is the bands ability to procreate gloomy atmosphere with the guitars and the bass incorporated. On this song, the bass guitar is upbeat and can be heard over the drums, which stays pretty simple as it follows through. The blasts can only be heard during a verse, which elucidates the tempo of the song. Heljarmadr from infamous Domgard and Dark Funeral is singing on this side with his mid-pitched shrieks, so anyone familiar with these bands have the idea on his skills. The song is not overproduced and it supports the shivering background really well. The excellence of Grá is followed on side B with US black metal band Gnosis of the Witch, contributing the track titled Fórn Dauðaorð. Although I was not familiar with the band previously, but it reminds me with the Scandinavian bands (Dissection, Mare) and Icelandic black metal band Svartidaudi. This track is not up to the mark once you have been forwarded from side A. The track is kicks off almost in a similar fashion exhibited by early Swedish bands, however, the starting riff sounds tremendous which is backed throughout by a sharp, melodic tremolo section staring around 0:52. The music at this point seem very European in terms of soundscapes. Yes, the atmosphere Gnosis of the Witch has created on this song is worth mentioning. This could also be the reason Grá chose these Americans to release an album with (apart from the lyrical contents which share similarities). The track has its slow and ambient mood which is attained from 2:30 before breaking into its black metal moments again. Unlike Grá, Gnosis of the Witch has their bass sounds buried amidst the guitar layers. In drumming, there is no abundant blasts or slow paced beats, rather played with sharp variations.
To finish with, the music in ‘Grá/Gnosis of the Witch’ can be described as a balance between the harsh black metal sound and melodious background. There is nothing groundbreaking on this release but the split itself is a solid black metal art for the fans of Scandinavian black metal.
An exclusive split 7" between two shadowy black metal hordes, GRÁ and GNOSIS OF THE WITCH. GRÁ occupy the A-side with "Valitus ja kaipuu" - burly yet drifting, tangibly physical yet seemingly not of this realm, shifting itself between trance and decay. GNOSIS OF THE WITCH then occupy the B-side with "Fórn Dauðaorð" - old as time, hideous in its hypnosis, ancient splendor stretched to the darkest limit. Together, both bands offer short-yet-sweet portals to the beyond..
This is a split between two respected bands and as I wait for a new full length from both of them, they decide to collaborate on a release. Grá and Gnosis of the Witch join forces to come out with a mini album that features one new track each, so it’s short in length (twelve minutes total) but sweet in taste and always welcome in the underground. Everyone likes such releases in the underground. I was astonished when I first heard the self-title album Grá released in 2011 for it’s energy and power, but after that I was not totally convinced with their 2013 EP Necrology of the Witch, despite the fact that everyone loved it. In this split, their track “Valitus ja kaippu” (which is Finnish for “the appeal and the longing” , I think) and opens with an eerie, clean guitar melody before driving into the distorted black metal of Grá. The sound is dusty enough and the track itself is pretty standard for them, with the middle part being more forcible. Gnosis of the Witch, on the other hand, haven’t released a full length yet and that makes me even more eager, since their first EPs have been a blast. The concept of the band is intriguing, revolving around a modern philosophy called the Thursatru tradition, which is roughly a combination of anti-cosmic satanism and Scandinavian religion, focused a lot on sorcery. With “Fórn Dauðaorð” they weigh in a more minimalistic, droning and almost ritualistic essence, hammering repetitive and ugly black metal riffs throughout their whole part. I wasn’t disappointed by the two bands and by listening, one understands how they stay strong to their purpose. This is not much to go through but it’s better than nothing and will surely work for many of their fans. If you don’t know the bands though, I suggest you check their previous material and then this.
Promo video:
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