Finnish band Graveborne was formed in 2008 by Black Crucifixion’s Marchosias (guitars) and drummer Pentele (live-musician for Black Crucifixion). They released an EP in 2009 (Astride Over The Grave) and a first full length in 2011 (Pure Negativity, via Nykta). It gave them the opportunity to perform live on stage with the likes of Sacrilegious Impalement, Kadotus or Goatmoon, and finally they were able to sign to the upcoming label Séance Records in order to release their second full length studio recording.
This new one, which lasts for thirty six minutes, was recorded in their home studio, and mixed and mastered at D-Studio with Jarno Hänninen, one of Finland’s most notorious engineers (think: Twilight Ophera, Noumena, Decaying, Gloomy Grim, Saattue, Thyrien, Re-Armed, Fear Of Domination and many others). It features, by the way, guest vocals (on the track Pyhää Verta) by …And Oceans / Festerday / Havoc Unit’s Kena ‘K-2T4-S / Killstar’ Strömsholm.
With Through The Window Of The Night, Graveborne bring, once again, an eclectic and merciless form of rhythmic, warlike and timeless Black Metal within the best Swedish tradition. This might sound somewhat awkward, but Graveborne indeed are enormously inspired by the Swedish scene from the nineties as well as the current one; it defines a certain timeless expression throughout the band’s efforts. Dark Funeral, Dissection, Funeral Mist, Necrophobic, Damnation Army, Triumphator and Thy Primordial are just a couple of names that come to mind. However, also the Norwegian (Immortal, Gorgoroth, Kharon) and, of course, the Finnish (Behexen, Sargeist, Pest) scene might have been of inspirational influence.
Indeed, this material lacks of ‘originality’ once again, but in this case I do not care at all. When the result sounds almost, or at least, as interesting as the (highly-appreciated) comparisons, well, who gives a damn about originality then? I do not, for Graveborne return with another excellent piece of majestic and epic Black Superiority.