Cult Graves - Strange Customs

CULT GRAVES - Strange Customs (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2021)

Here is Cult Graves, yet another new name on the US death metal scene. This duo has just released their first official CD through Godz Ov War, which is titled "Strange Customs" and which contains their new 2020 demo along with an earlier 2018 demo. So, my knife is sharp, I am ready for another bloodshed. 

Well, one thing is certain, Cult Graves does not care for your good health or well-being. They rip the guts out with brutal death metal, which sounds quite essential for their native scene. This really is a ferocious and cavernous shit, with riffs that are like chaotic, bestial assault. Especially the newer demo sounds like maelstrom of insane savagery, with almost no general formula for the song structures. It is quite primeval, very brutal, with no trace of melody or memorable, catchy fragments at all. Cult Graves are here to cut your throat. And they are quite good at It. 

What it all lacks a bit is a better production, I think. It's not bad really on both demos, I like the 2018 demo sound more actually... but it's all really harsh, savage and noisy, lacking a bit of that powerful, clean and crispy crushing death metal tone you normally associate most of US death metal with. Also, that deep, vomiting growl sounds sometimes just boring, as it just feels emotionless and same over and over again. It makes all these 2020 songs sound irritatingly similar to each other. More diversity would be nice next time. Only few short sections of doomier stuff don’t do enough.  

This is why I cannot say that these demos caught my full attention, frankly speaking. They are all right and certainly it is a solid effort from Cult Graves. There are some strong riffs, some cool arrangements... It’s a good start and things can only get better from here. I am sure we will hear more interesting things from Cult Graves in the future, but for now it is mediocre.

Verdict: 70/100