Dutch death metal outfit Graceless—The members are lead vocalist and guitarist David Kreft, lead guitarist Bjorn Brusse, bassist Jasper Aptroot, and drummer Marc Verhaar—released their groundbreaking record Icons of Ruins on May 30 via Listenable Records. The fourth LP in the band’s discography is filled with killer hooks, brutal breakdowns, and straightforward riffs, making the intense record sit on the death side of the death and doom ethos of metal, starting off with a bang on the opening track titled “God Shines In The Absence.”
Pulling inspiration from death metal bands such as Pungent Stench and Death, the track “Resurrection of the Graveless” is a homage to old-school death metal from the early ’90s mixed with elements of horror that see the band tap into their ability to infuse the raw energy and emotion that death metal calls for while keeping their catchy, fun sound. Unrelenting and bombastic, both songs shine on a record that reflects where the band have been and what they have yet to accomplish musically.
Formed in 2016 in Leiden, Netherlands, Graceless burst onto the metal scene after the demise of Soulburn, spurring both members of the outfit, guitarist Eric Daniels, and drummer Bob Bagchus, to reconvene and emerge as a new band. With an intact lineup, the band went on a journey of sonic destruction, becoming known for riveting live performances and penchant for reinvention breaking listeners in with their first album titled Shadowlands in 2017 and building up their reputation for brutality on their 2020 sophomore LP Where Vultures Know Your Name and the follow-up record titled Chants From Purgatory released in 2022.
For Graceless, Icons of Ruins represents an “epic journey through the darkest recesses of the human experience.” Expertly combining simplicity with intensity, the group enters a new chapter of their career with confidence, explosiveness, and more commitment to their craft than ever.
Via email, vocalist and guitarist David Kreft chatted with New Noise Magazine about the inspiration behind their dark single “Lash Me to My Painful Death,” the band’s influences, and entering a new sonic chapter with this new record.
What was the process of filming the music video for “Resurrection For The Graveless” like?
We were looking for something different, something new, so we contacted a video producer who could create a video that suited our zombie track “Resurrection of the Graveless.” We are not a major band with a budget to match. I think most bands make the same music videos these days: a lyric video and a band playing a song on location. We looked for a different solution within our budget, and that became an AI music video. The subsequent shitstorm gave the video a huge boost, but we won’t be doing it again anytime soon. We will always try to find (new) creative solutions. But not everything is bull’s eye.
Both “Lash Me To My Painful Death” and “Sanctified Slaughter” are heavy and atmospheric tracks. What inspired each one?
“Lash me” is a death metal song with an black metal atmosphere. We wanted to make a dark and depressing vibe that suits the lyrics. It is a song about pain, and losing yourself in an abusive relationship. “Sanctified” is much more a real death metal song. It is pure blunt violence and tells a story about what religion can do to a person.
This new record is said to be a new chapter for the band sonically. How so?
We always try to make every album better than the last one. Sound, songs, lyrics, artwork, everything. And I think we succeeded at all of that. We’ve tried to make this more like a band album. In the past we did all our parts separately. So we were never complete as a band during the recording process. This time we booked the Soundlodge Studio and stayed there till the album was done. We worked day and night, and that paid off. We came up with so much stuff during the recordings and the late-night sessions; it was really amazing. And Jörg (the producer) really knows what we need as a band and as a person.
We also tried to seek the borders of old-school death metal and experimented with sounds and melodies, leads, and all different types of metal.
Which death metal bands have inspired the sound of this album and the band’s sound since its formation?
The first album (Shadowlands) was an homage to the elder gods of the ’90s: Obituary, Bolt Thrower, Death, Morbid Angel, Entombed, and Dutch heroes like Asphyx, Sinister, Pestilence, and Gorefest. We try to put in some of our own sounds with albums that come after that, and we are coming closer to the Graceless sound with every new record. And it is not only death metal. We are heavily inspired by Slayer, Priest, Sabbath, Maiden, and Venom as well.
What do you hope that listeners get out of the album?
I hope they enjoy the fuck out if it, that it puts a smile on their face, that they feel an animal urge to bang and start a mosh pit! We are a live band, so come and see us on the road. Horns up my friend(s)!!
Icons of Ruin is out now, and you can order it from Listenable Records. Follow Graceless on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
Photo Credit: Eus Straver
