... The code is calling : GRAVECODE NEBULA 'Sempiternal Void' (Album Review)

"Ever since the Gravecode Nebula/Krieg 7" split was released in 2011, a full-length debut album has been a highly anticipated release by this nigredic death coven from Salt Lake City. The psychedelic funeral doom group has carefully conjured more than 60 minutes of deeply ominous tracks, collectively entitled "Sempiternal Void."

The album takes the listener on a journey through twists and turns of kaleidoscopic indignation and madness, plunging them deep into the somber blackness and radiant beauty of the void. This is not a concept record in itself, but rather a genesis of the realization that the vastness of the universe is beyond comprehension; the harsh environment of outer space and nothingness is where all life, and ultimately death, is cultivated. These are the sounds of all that is bleak, discordant, acrid, dissonant, and ultimately empty of all forms of human compassion.
"Sempiternal Void" is now available via the Baneful Genesis label's Bandcamp page from today  November 1st. A double LP will be available in 2014."

Steve Miller was warmly recommending this band after the Denver Doom Fest last month and I did quickly discovered their sound with excitement, the kind of funeral blackened Doom which I dig to drown into, reminding me at times another excellent local band called Stoic Dissention... If the style of Gravecode Nebula sounds pretty much actual and may be attached to the specific scene of punishing blackened Doom/noise, to my ears they're different from other bands like Primitive Man for example, there's not that same dissonance and filthiness here, ultimately the band sounds more Metal in its overall approach which is a very good point I think, but believe me it's damn brutally heavy and punishing too. 
Also "Funeral" is not to be expected in terms of classical (too) long and repetitive mournful moods but more in a nebulous occult aura enveloping their alchemical quest of chaos.

With - to start, 3 songs lasting between 11 and 14 minutes, the band sets nicely growing atmospheres and get a poisonous substance out of them to infect your blood and soul ! nothing too extensive and droning though, an haunting menace always predomine but the tempos are varied with long instrumental-driven soundscapes,introspective incantatory chapters, sick accelerations or slowed to agonize assembly of creepy sounds, funerary keyboards...The word psychedelic must be also understood differently from usual, not exactly for an avalanche of frantic guitars - it would be more for the state of mind it's been composed in and is managing to put you in too... like a mysterious protuberant black mushroom infusion, rather than classical tasty weed, hahaha! 

The 3 other songs which constitute the 2nd part of the album are 9 minutes pieces, more rough and brutal (most notably 'Lethal Aether') but still giving place to spooky atmospheres and a feeling of surrounding demise (closer "Abhorrent Absorbant"), they don't mark any break in the tense and obscure experience of aural pain that Gravecode Nebula insidiously inflicts you... just the order of the songs could have put one of them in 2nd or 3rd row of the album tracklist but that's more of a detail than a mistake.

All in all, with the very special, refined yet disturbing - concoction of Black and Doom they did here, Gravecode Nebula offer the best HALLOWEEN present you could ever imagine ! enjoy this masterpiece with more than one hour of hellish atmospheres, punishing vocals and soothsaying dementia ! One of this year's greatest surprises for sure...

https://www.facebook.com/gravecodenebula

…Live Report: DENVER DOOM FEST III October 11th & 12th, 3 Kings Tavern

The waning daylight hours and the colder nights had marked the season for Denver’s annual Doom Fest. Once again Obsidian FogPromotions assembled a killer lineup consisting of local acts as well as artists from across the nation and even from around the globe. The two day event had no shortage of heavy, dark tunes and cool vibes from the bands and the crowd. This year’s event also boasted its own beer—a blackened grätzer—courtesy of Denver’s own TRVE Brewing company. Despite cancellations from Fister, Western Ritual, and The Flight of Sleipnir (congratulations to new father Clay Cushman), the event had an incredible roster that was deep enough to cover the unfortunate gaps. Brief, inadequate descriptions and bad photos ensue…

Day I

As with the previous year, work commitments kept me from getting to the fest on time and, again, I had to miss a couple of acts. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to catch either Whilt or Blighter.

PRIMITIVE MAN

First up, for me, was the misanthropic assault of Primitive Man. Their ugly, hateful dirges had intentions nothing short of decimating the weak. The three-piece constructed their set around a complete disregard for humanity and theirs was the sound of hate and fury. The band lived up to their namesake by bludgeoning the crowd with crawling tempos matched with occasional bursts of upbeat fury. Noise. Death. Doom.

LYCANTHIA

Australia’s Lycanthia were the perfect follow up to the focused hate unleashed by Primitive Man. Though not completely devoid of aggression, Lycanthia’s use of keys and violin had a calming effect after what was arguably the most caustic set of the fest. The band’s gothic styled death-doom utilized both female vocals and death growls which produced a set that had moments of dark melancholia and beauty. The band seemed to have a great time playing in the US and stuck around for the second night of the fest. It was great to have them on board.

THE SKULL

Closing out the first night of the fest, and one of my personal favorite performances of the event, was The Skull. The Trouble splinter group played classics from ‘Psalm 9’ through ‘Plastic Green Head’ and they fucking killed it. The classic heavy doom from their earliest releases and the stoner inspired rock of their later albums were equally represented. Not only did the band sound great, but they also seemed to be having a blast playing on stage and interacting with the crowd. An awesome way to end the first night of the fest.

Day II

KHEMMIS

Kicking off day two of the fest was Khemmis—a late addition to cover the gap left by the cancellation of Fister. Though I was bummed to hear that Fister had to drop out of the lineup, Khemmis were a fantastic replacement. They were tight, heavy, and had a head-nodding stoner groove that remained unrivalled for the rest of the festival. This band was a great surprise and I’m looking forward to hearing material beyond their ‘Sunrise/Sunset’ rehearsal demo.

BLACK ACID DEVIL

Continuing where Khemmis ended and pulling off one of the most energetic sets of the night was Black Acid Devil. The band dabbled in the same sonic territory as Khemmis, but took an adrenalized, amphetamine fuelled approach to their brand of stoner sludge. Fuzzed-out riffs and frantic solos punctuated every tune.

PENDULOUS

A gloomy, forlorn atmosphere and a killer, wide-ranging vocal performance were the highlights of Pendulous’ set. E.R.M.’s melodramatic stage presence was nothing shy of tortured and he effortlessly shifted between melancholic clean vocals and guttural wails. It was cool to see and hear the band live after checking out the band’s ‘Mirrored Confessions’ EP on their Bandcamp page following Steph’s killer review.

DEAD TEMPLE

What’s better than an occult doom band with female vocals? Try an occult doom band with female vocals in triplicate. Yep, Denver’s own Dead Temple utilizes three vocalists to peddle their brand of old school doom. The band effortlessly combines traditional metal, doom, and theatrics into a memorable, hard rocking show.  

IN THE COMPANY OF SERPENTS

The workhorse sludge/doom duo In the Company of Serpents never fails to deliver. The band is heavy-as-fuck and always gives 100% on stage and night two of the fest was no different. Their set was amongst the heaviest and the duo continued to tease the audience with tracks from their anticipated upcoming full-length, ‘Of the Flock’.

GRAVECODE NEBULA

Shrouded in black, Salt Lake City’s Gravecode Nebula combined a killer set of blackened funeral doom with an ominous stage presence for one hell of a memorable performance. Acting as conduits, the band channeled eerie atmospherics from the darkest recesses of the netherworld. I’m totally looking forward to checking out more from this band.

STOIC DISSENTION

Keeping with the theme initiated by Gravecode Nebula was Colorado’s own Stoic Dissention. The band killed it with their blend of black metal, doom, and sweeping post metal. Their set was equal parts blackened gloom and trippy atmospherics accompanied by tortured howls and chants. Definitely looking forward to the band’s forthcoming album…

VELNIAS

Prior to performing, Boulder’s Velnias cleansed the stage with a bundle of sage and proceeded to play a candlelit set. The band’s music is moody enough, but the candles and darkness contributed to the overall atmosphere. Similar to the previous fest, Velnias combined moments of restrained intensity with outright blasts of blackened fury.  

SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT

One of the most interesting acts of the night was New Hampshire’s Shroud of Bereavement who mixed death metal and doom with a heavy focus on keyboards and piano. Add to the mix guttural growls wailed in unison with operatic female vocals and you get an idea of where Shroud of Bereavement is coming from. The band executed a killer set and were happy to be playing the fest. To top-it-off it was Steph Robinson’s (vocals/keyboards) birthday and the crowd was more than happy to sing her “Happy Birthday”.

EVOKEN

What else can be said about this band that hasn’t been said before? Despite a few technical difficulties to kick-off their set, the band persevered and managed to pull off a crushingly heavy set of moody funeral doom. Evoken was able to match the epic, forlorn crawl of their recorded output and somehow make it heavier and more oppressive.

Words and photos: Steve Miller