Grave Forsaken is a Thrash Metal band bringing the thunder from down under while calling Perth, Western Australia home. According to an interview at Indie Vision Music, the band's name - 'Grave Forsaken' - refers to Jesus dying on the cross to save us. Through Jesus, our grave is forsaken.
With 13 releases to their credit, Grave Forsaken is by no means new on the Metal scene. The band formed back in 2004 by Vaughan Gregory & Matt Skipworth who were originally part of a group called Katara. Just after one year, they released their 2005 independent self-titled demo EP which also included some early Death Metal influences. In 2006 the band released their first full-length album titled "Beside The River Of Blood". This release showed a maturing band with some Doom elements introduced into their arrangements along with a little help from Rowe Productions. Then in 2007 Grave Forsaken released their critically acclaimed album titled 'Horror And Sadness' which landed the band exposure in Heaven's Metal magazine. In 2008 the band showed they were here to stay with the release of 'Destined For Ascension' which got this reviewers attention landing them a review at Christian Molten Metal. Over the years, GF went on to release many more albums as follows: 2009-'This Day Forth', 2009-'Light The Hall!', '2010-'Fight To The Death', 2011'-Light The Hall II', 2012-'Reap What You Sow', 2013-'Plugged Into The System', 2014-'Ten Years', 2015-'The Fight Goes On'.
With 13 releases to their credit, Grave Forsaken is by no means new on the Metal scene. The band formed back in 2004 by Vaughan Gregory & Matt Skipworth who were originally part of a group called Katara. Just after one year, they released their 2005 independent self-titled demo EP which also included some early Death Metal influences. In 2006 the band released their first full-length album titled "Beside The River Of Blood". This release showed a maturing band with some Doom elements introduced into their arrangements along with a little help from Rowe Productions. Then in 2007 Grave Forsaken released their critically acclaimed album titled 'Horror And Sadness' which landed the band exposure in Heaven's Metal magazine. In 2008 the band showed they were here to stay with the release of 'Destined For Ascension' which got this reviewers attention landing them a review at Christian Molten Metal. Over the years, GF went on to release many more albums as follows: 2009-'This Day Forth', 2009-'Light The Hall!', '2010-'Fight To The Death', 2011'-Light The Hall II', 2012-'Reap What You Sow', 2013-'Plugged Into The System', 2014-'Ten Years', 2015-'The Fight Goes On'.
2017
In 2017 Grave Forsaken released their 7th studio full-length album titled 'It Has Begun' on Nocturnal Mass records. With the release of 'It Has Begun,' the band unleashes a full-on Metal assault with guitars ablaze. This is the kind of Molten Metal that will punch you in the mouth and then deliver a finishing uppercut. The line-up for their 2017 album is comprised of vocalist-Vaughan Gregory behind the mic, guitarist-Elias Salmela delivering the shred, bassist-Matt Skipworth dropping some heavy bass lines, and Drummer-Luke Gallagher bringing the thunder.
This release finds Grave Forsaken partnering with Nocturnal Mass which is a sub-label of Soundmass for high-quality underground Christian metal releases. The production on this 2017 release is well done with a nice balance between instruments and Vocals in that the vocals aren't lost in the mix. The slight reverb added to the vocals, throughout the album, are a nice touch as well.
GF has always been known as the Thrash band from down under and make no mistake there is plenty of Thrash elements present here. However, it seams that the band doesn't want to be pigeonholed into one genre because there is much more going on within the band's arrangements on this 2017 release. The musical arrangements weave in and out from Thrash to Power Metal to Heavy Metal making it possible for the band to appeal to a much broader audience.
This release finds Grave Forsaken partnering with Nocturnal Mass which is a sub-label of Soundmass for high-quality underground Christian metal releases. The production on this 2017 release is well done with a nice balance between instruments and Vocals in that the vocals aren't lost in the mix. The slight reverb added to the vocals, throughout the album, are a nice touch as well.
GF has always been known as the Thrash band from down under and make no mistake there is plenty of Thrash elements present here. However, it seams that the band doesn't want to be pigeonholed into one genre because there is much more going on within the band's arrangements on this 2017 release. The musical arrangements weave in and out from Thrash to Power Metal to Heavy Metal making it possible for the band to appeal to a much broader audience.
With the release of 'It Has Begun', Frontman Vaughan Gregory steps up to the mic and delivers one of his strongest performances to date. Vaughan really digs deep showing growth as he delivers the right amount of grit and energy needed to add to the overall heaviness of the album pushing this release to the next level. I must say, while listening to Vaughan Gregory's deliver, I was often reminded of the vocal work of Chaz Bond(Jacob's Dream, BioGenesis).
There's nothing lacking in the guitar department with Elias Salmela lighting up the fret board with some of the best guitar shredn' that Iv'e heard in a while. Salmela quickly lets us know what we are in for with the opening of track-1 where it sounds as if our warriors are rushing into battle with the sound of galloping guitar riffs. Salmela offers up a number of solos and some of the instrumentals are of such intensity that they bring to mind shredder-Chris Impellitteri. This release finds Elias Salmela delivering up a slurry mix of Thrash riffs along with modern and old school 80's style play to form a lethal concoction that will leave most Metal heads beggin' for more.
Lyrics are Christ centered and show the band's desire the reach out to world
and edify those already in the Light as one can see in the following lyric:
and edify those already in the Light as one can see in the following lyric:
"Battle On"
Fighting till the very end
Never going to give in
Thrashin’ all the way
Won’t waste another day
No matter what you throw at us
We will always find a way
We are rocking on
We’re never going to stop
Seems so many things
Drown us out again
We always come back strong
Our strong will within
Despite the pain we’re moving on strong
Our faith in God is pushing us on
Instead of fading we’re striving ahead
What doesn’t kill will only make strong
Fighting till the very end
Never going to give in
Thrashin’ all the way
Won’t waste another day
No matter what you throw at us
We will always find a way
We are rocking on
We’re never going to stop
Seems so many things
Drown us out again
We always come back strong
Our strong will within
Despite the pain we’re moving on strong
Our faith in God is pushing us on
Instead of fading we’re striving ahead
What doesn’t kill will only make strong
(See Site Info for Sword Scale meaning)
Grave Forsaken has been compared to such bands as Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, and Mortification. If you love old school Thrash and have a hunger for all things Metal then you are going to love this 2017 release by Grave Forsaken. Pick up your copy of their latest album at one of the following sites and let the moshing begin.
Musicians:
Vaughan Gregory - Vocals
Elias Salmela - Guitars
Matt Skipworth - Bass
Luke Gallagher - Drums
Vaughan Gregory - Vocals
Elias Salmela - Guitars
Matt Skipworth - Bass
Luke Gallagher - Drums
