Album Review – EARTHEN GRAVE – Earthen Grave

Ripple Records ( Release date – out now)

Formed back in 2008 and led by former Trouble bassist Ron Holzner, Earthen Grave have honed their sound over the last 5 years. This is the band’s first album and is a doom-laden masterpiece. The six piece produce huge riffs and massive grooves which owe a lot to early Sabbath and Saint Vitus but what sets Earthen Grave apart is the addition of virtuoso violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Her electric violin work really adds another dimension to the heavy, doom metal fare which is refreshing to hear.

The album opens with ‘Earthen Grave’ which kicks off with an atmospheric bell tolling in the distance which then builds to a solid, slow, pounding riff and then rounds off with some fast paced rocking with violin accents, an impressive start. Over the course of the twelve tracks there are many highlights, whether it is the shorter, more immediate tracks such as ‘Burning A Sinner’ or one of the slow burning epics like ‘Dismal Times’, all are suitably black and oh so heavy.

The song writing and construction is top notch and none more so than on the album’s tour de force, ‘Death On The High Seas’, which is a song of epic proportions. Here the band really excel with a romping mid-section which would be stunning live, Rachel’s fiddle work on this one is stunning.

Another stand out for me is the addition of a live version of Rainbow’s ‘Stargazer’ with Rachel again stepping to the fore to play the main solo on which she is note perfect, I’m sure Mr Blackmore would be impressed.

As a debut album, this is a stonker. The band can be rightly proud of this release, with the addition of the violin work they have managed to create a doom metal album which stands out within the genre, no easy task. Preparing an earthen grave for this lot is most definitely a premature move as they have plenty of life still to live and hopefully much still to give.

****

David Wilson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)