Artist: Grave Of God
Country: Portugal
Label: Altare Productions / Final Agony
Formats: LP
Year: 2025
Although I tend to keep a close eye on the Portuguese Black Metal scene and Grave Of God already released a split tape, a full-length album and a 7” EP through respected labels such as Final Agony and Signal Rex, I never actually listened to the band before this sophomore album was released. Not for a particular reason, possibly just because there’s only 24 hours in each day. Honestly, I think the rather cringy band name and logo didn’t help either…
But, from what I have heard on ‘Nocturnal Wanderings Amongst The Castle Ruins’ this Portuguese one-man band knows his craft pretty well. On the other hand, it is also a bit too much to conclude that by not listening to the band before, I have ignored some sublime masterpieces. This new album is pretty much in perfect alignment with the previously released material, which means that we are presented with some straight-forward and non-adventurous Black Metal. Simple, yet effective riff-driven Black Metal in the old tradition once laid by bands like Darkthrone, Gorgoroth and Dødheimsgard. Melancholic and slightly melodic, yet all wrapped up in an icy production.
You’d almost forget that besides the majestic raw and lo-fi entities of Candelabrum and Black Cilice and their artistic followers, there’s more going on in the blackened regions of the Portuguese metal scene. Grave Of God is an excellent example of the country’s rich musical landscape, capable of capturing more than the flavor of the day. Don’t expect any tectonic shifts or life-changing new perspectives, but rather solid and well-executed Black Metal in the old tried-and-tested tradition.
