Before I heard it, I thought that 'Doom, Death, Darkness' was a fucking Runemagick tribute. Even though Mystic Grave say that they mix death metal and doom metal, it's still very different when compared to the Swedish mages of doomy death.

Mystic Grave are a young three-piece band hailing from midwest Finland, and 'Doom, Death, Darkness' being their debuting release. This self-released EP contains 19+ minutes of old school rotten metal worship. Having one foot in the grave of 1980s death metal, the band know how to rock without sounding pussy even a bit. The amount of groove is as voluminous as the onslaught of a zombie horde while you're taking a pleasurable dumb. No much time to react, before you're contaminated! Punky without being punk, this has attitude (the punkiest song is 'Demented Killer', definitely). The doom factor lies in the slower parts, that contort the songs, and in the riffs that remind me of Cathedral and, yes, Runemagick. The vocals are putrid, with stomach acidy breath, pretty bassy but far from lowest ever heard. And the words are coherent. All the members take part in making voices, too. The sound could be a bit more intense, because the music surely is, even though now the raw sounding instruments are well audible.

Mystic Grave should plunge well for the fans of Razorback Records' roster. I feel this is pretty close to Engorged's horror metal, but being less thrashy. 'Doom, Death, Darkness' reeks noxiously, but is far from dead. The band have a broad field to romp about and they sound like they are fully ready to be picked up by a record label and get that full length platter out ASAP. As contagious as syphilis! Notice it yourself by visiting the band's homegrave and finding those sanious songs. I heartily recommend you to do so because they will snatch your soul before you can say "now where the hell is that ass cheek scratching toilet paper?"

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
03/07/2008 16:10