Metal Debate Album Review - Seasons Dreaming Death (Graveripper)

The Great Metal Debate Podcast

Welcome to another Metal Debate album review, checking out the debut full-length release from Indianapolis metallers Graveripper titled “Seasons Dreaming Death.” Graveripper fuse speed metal, thrash metal, and black metal elements into a consistent sound, such that fans of any of those genres will find their music familiar and welcome. Let’s go through track-by-track to give a full accounting of what we have… The intro track “Into The Grave” is a phenomenal song that goes straight for the throat with razor sharp intensity. Here we find an intense musical experience propelled by high-speed, dynamic and dexterous drumming. Overtop are crunchy guitar riffs that mesh nicely with the clanking, rolling bass-lines that rattle through their paces. The gruff, shrieking vocal rasps aren’t far from the gravelly-voiced air of black metal yet still bring more of an enunciated feel reminiscent of thrash. Graveripper keep the tempo at top speed on the album’s second sonic offering “Ripped And Torn Apart,” a song title that perfectly describes the track’s effect. I love hearing that bass kick in early on, adding the low end and filling out the aural assault spectrum. “Divine Incantations” is an economical track that still packs a punch per pound. Drummer Jacob Lett does a phenomenal job behind the kit here as he does throughout the album. This is pure mosh pit fodder. The album title track “Seasons Dreaming Death” opens angry with blessed dissonance, then devolves into more linear pacing but retaining the same combative attitude. It’s a well-structured song with a nice little interlude prior to the end that adds atmosphere and depth. The bass is again on full display. There’s plenty of aggression but also a lot of color and welcome variation. Graveripper come back with blazing speed on the intro to the next track, “Premeditated,” though it settles into a more moderated tempo as we move further forward. The hammering drum attacks continue throughout, as aggressive as ever. The graduated intro following the bellowed lyric “only my death can set me free” is apropos, although through the bulk of the song you will have been maniacally banging your skull. I really enjoy the way the band deliver this one, just a splendid blend of full-throttle speed melded with the thrash aesthetic. Coming in at under two minutes “Influx Of Fear” is an abbreviated tale to say the least, making the aforementioned “Divine Incantations” seem like an epic track. It is constructed similar to the previous song, but with an even catchier riff and killer ending lead break. “Resist Against The Light” maintains the uncompromising pace, but with a little different feel and melodic nuance. This is one of my favorite songs in the mix, somewhat reminiscent of Hell Awaits era Slayer. Track eight - “Red Skies” – has almost a power metal-esque feel to the intro and bridge, a change-up that I like a lot. Something like what I’d imagine I’d hear if one could arrange a Dragonforce – Toxic Holocaust collaboration. “And I Curse Reality” has a furious, well-written riff but also great melody - you can feel the guitarist’s fingers dancing across the fretboard. This song builds an atmosphere of malice, as welcome harmonics transition into a brief lead and then more fury. The finale is dissonant and chill, matching its title - “Only Coldness.” There’s some bone-snapping time changes thrown in that really add depth to the song and never allow the listener to grow comfortable with it. I love the hesitation in the vocal delivery on the chorus: “Only coldness… Awaits!” Ending the album with fantastic effort. Graveripper really rage throughout this one. There’s a lot of youthful energy on this record, which makes me excited to follow the band and see how they develop their sound in the coming years. For its genre this is a powerful album and one I think will be appreciated for many years. I’m giving “Seasons Dreaming Death” a 9 out of 10.