Throughout the early years of their formation, Graveworm has never forsaken its trademark sound. Therefore, the dark characteristics of heavy gothic are strongly present in the band’s newest album. The opening track ‘A Nameless Grave’ sets the tone for the album, offering beautiful piano soundscapes that shroud the melodic riff work of the guitars and capped off with deep growling. Although the band played a unique style of melodic black/death metal, their musical arrangements have always been as important as the lyrical themes. The symphonic pattern seems to fleetingly convey throughout the rumbling riffs in the following track ‘Dead Words’ and the haunting growls are the icing on the cake. The composition offers a catchy mix of melodies and acoustic guitar passages, all combined to back the vocals.

Lusty melodies saturated with heavy bass and percussion engulf the beautiful piano keys driven by guitars and somber grunting. Not surprisingly the raw emotion of the growls gives the symphonies plenty of moments to shine. The musical quality is instantly recognizable with the excellent guitars and rich sonic textures on ‘End of Time’. While there’s a lot of variation in instruments like the piano and the synthesizer, these elements significantly add more textures to the music. It’s evident that Graveworm has improved the song’s structure by relying on the gothic melodic death metal style. The polished sound quality and the modern production provides a listening experience on tracks like ‘Escorting the Soul’. The guitars combine tremolo-picked riffs with some fast blasting sections, the music is dimly dramatic and filled with intense tremolo pickings and harsh black metal vocals.

Somehow ‘If The World Shut Down’ brings some nostalgic moments of the German gothic death metal act Crematory. The vibrant melodies blend into the mix while the range of the vocals takes a black metal sort of undertone and oozes dark quality melodies. The drumming pace is robust and brings many heavy tempos. Backed with unfaltering guitar dynamics, it invites the listener into lush, atmospheric moments.

Graveworm’s tenth album is an inspired piece of genuine work. The keyboards are often employed in the tempos and show the dramatic and atmospheric side of the band. Each instrument is well placed, heavy reverb guitars and tremolos engaging in a beautiful mélange in ‘In Honour of the Fallen’. Unlike the band’s classic album ‘Scourge of Malice’ which was heavily aggressive and symphonic,  ‘Killing Innocence’ focuses more on spontaneous and gothic-charged melodies.

As a result, Graveworm may have found the optimal balance between gothic death metal and melodic black metal with the guitars being more oriented. Always providing a sense of heaviness, the riffing style is notable in ‘We Are the Resistance’. Emphasizing melodic riffs in the track ‘Where Agony Prevails’ the heavy drum beats alone elevate this song into a higher level of aggression. Aside from the catchy symphonic arrangements the powerful grunts steer the gloomy mood, while piercing tremolos and blast beats also take a fair share in this song.

Graveworm’s music is filled with somber emotions, despair and symphonic gothic breadth, inspired by the classic era of the nineties, there are many moments on this album that highlight the rich sonic compositions. ‘Wicked Mind’ and ‘Wrath of Gods’ are both upbeat, powerful and more ferocious than the rest of the songs. Here, you will have a clear encounter with the band’s fierce riffing barrages and solid percussion. While keeping the lush symphonies hanging in the backdrop of the music, the later track begins with a heavy drums bombardment. Melodic tremolo pickings become awash with harsh black metal shrieking vocals and death metal grunts, as the guitars transition from a melancholic section into a fast-paced tempo.

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