I cast my eyes over the press release as the first snarling powerchords of ‘The Fight Goes On’ assail my ears. I know precisely nothing of Grave Forsaken, after all. ‘Grave Forsaken is a Christian thrash metal band from Perth, Western Australia,’ it begins. Whoa, what? Christian thrash? Isn’t that an oxymoron? It continues: ‘Forming in 2004, the band has now released 6 studio albums. Grave Forsaken have become a recognised name in the underground Christian metal scene.’ Wait, seriously? There’s actually a Christian thrash metal SCENE?
I’m not some kind of raving Satanist. But surely Christianity and thrash are fundamentally incompatible – particularly when the creators of this abominable cack are so, well, fundamental?
It’s bad thrash. Third-division Slayer / Anthrax rip-off riffs, fretwanky solos that make Iron Maiden sound restrained and ludicrous symphonic licks that would make Brian May wince aren’t the worst of it. The vocals, man, they’re bad. Forced, strained and lacking the necessary brute force, it’s all the worse for the fact the lyrics are often audible. The apocalyptic scenes they depict with relish are man-made as non-believers wage war on one another, while God’s disciples have only righteousness on their side. ‘Holy is the Lord almighty,” they chant on ‘Four Creatures’. And then there’s ‘God is With Us (Psalm 46)’, no doubt selected for its fire and brimstone fury.
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I have to concede, it’s nasty, but not in the way thrash albums are usually nasty. It’s also painfully awful, and I’ll be giving the rest of the Christian thrash scene a miss.
Grave Forsaken Online
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