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GRAVE MIASMA
Odori Sepulcrorum

Sepulchral Voice (2013)
Rating: 9/10

Grave Miasma have been on my “to do” list for a while now, because ever since their Exalted Emanation EP from 2009, they’ve really impressed me, and so their debut full-length opus could not come soon enough. Now it’s here I’m just reveling in the cold, gloomy mists of this eight-track affair.

The band hails from London of all places, the last place you expect when you hear lyrics such as, “Assuming posture of Shavasana, Through a narrow gateway of infinity, A thousand eyes of Vairocana, Shall watch my ascent, Transfigured stars rest in each nexus, Sacred letters surround walls”. Indeed, these are the sort of lyrics, sepulchral voices and harsh, grating rhythms I’d expect from Norway, circa the grey fog of
Darkthrone’s 1991 debut offering Soulside Journey.

This is such a bleak yet arrogant recording from a quartet who rather mysteriously go by the names Y (vocals / guitar), R (guitar), A (bass) and D (drums), but there’s so much more to this gothic-drenched tome than meets the ears upon first listen. In fact, such is the immense quality and overall damp drizzle from this opus that I’m already thinking this could be one of the best albums from 2013, over-taking Lantern’s abysmal debut, Below, when it comes to complete cavernous echoes and cesspit dwelling.

The band moniker certainly does the quartet more favours than their previous name of Goat Molestör, because this really is a record to take seriously. Fans of the aforementioned Darkthrone debut will no doubt find much to savour here with the grey walls of guitar and hoarse, echoing vocals, but this chilling affair goes beyond the realm of plundering death metal and offers up a creepy doom-like dirge which throws up a few surprise ingredients such as flutes and even a Hammond organ, although for the most part it’s a record that shatters the bones with its icy stare.

As the likes of ‘Ossuary’, ‘Odoratus Sepulcrorum’ and the gigantic ‘Seven Coils’ writhe their way through those foetid passageways of mould, I’m finding myself topping up the hot water bottle as I prepare myself for each murky ride and yet I cannot remove this beast from the turntable such is its hypnotic appeal.

‘Ovation To A Thousand Lost Reveries’ picks up the pace and sees the combo opting for an old school death metal flesh-rake as their steely claws are prepared for a truly hideous savaging of the senses, and you just know that each victim who succumbs to this bewitching critter will be dragged into the darkest, foulest corners and left to rot as those gloomy guitars ring out through the fungi-ridden chambers forevermore.

Odori Sepulcrorum is such an atmospheric belter of a debut album, that I’m almost left scratching my head, because I’ve not heard something so spine-tingling since the late 80s and very early 90s. Grab your copy and remain frozen within its icy grip and pray that the rays of dawn rescue you.

Neil Arnold

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