★ GRAVE (Swedish Legend Death Metal) ★

Grave is a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1986 by vocalist and guitarist Ola Lindgren, who is their only constant member. The band had particular success in the early 1990s, and their first four albums, Into the Grave, You'll Never See..., Soulless and Hating Life, cemented their reputation as one of Sweden's foremost death metal bands. Grave went on hiatus in 1997, but got back together two years later. Since then, they have released six more studio albums, making a total of ten studio albums.

Early career (1986–1993)

The band started in 1986 under the name Corpse and changed it to Grave in 1988. They recorded various demos during 1986–1991 and including some singles and EPs as well. Their debut full-length album Into the Grave was released in 1991. The release led to a European and American tour. In 1992, the band released their second album You'll Never See..., which was a continuation of the style played on their debut. However, bassist Jonas Torndal, left the band as a result of his increasing dislike for touring. After unsuccessfully trying to find a replacement, the group made a decision to become a trio, as guitarist Jörgen Sandström switched to bass. A European tour followed with compatriots Dismember and headliner Morbid Angel.

Two more albums, hiatus and return (1994–2003)

Soulless - their third album, released in 1994 - showed a somewhat different style, blending some more experimentation and industrial tones into the death metal of the previous album. Sandström departed 1996 and Lindgren took over the vocals on their fourth album Hating Life. This album progressed further into the style started on Soulless. Another European and American tour followed, which resulted in the live album Extremely Rotten Live. Thereafter, the band more or less split up. 1999 was the first year the members rejoined and started rehearsing, nevertheless the band took it slow. Ultimately this led to a warm-up European tour and a new album in 2002. Back from the Grave which was a return to the style played on their second album, You'll Never See..., with minimal influence from the Soulless. As a bonus a CD was added with three demo recordings.

Fiendish Regression and As Rapture Comes (2004–2007)

The 2004 album Fiendish Regression saw the departure of drummer Paulsson, who was replaced by Coercion drummer Ekegren. This album showcased more aggressive and generally somewhat faster songs. Touring followed through Europe in support of Cryptopsy. Two years later, in 2006 As Rapture Comes was released further increasing the overall speed and aggression. Noteworthy is the inclusion of the Alice in Chains cover of "Them Bones". In support of the album the band toured with Dismember, Vital Remains, Demiricous, and Withered through the US and Canada. In November 2006 they toured Europe as part of the Masters of Death tour, with Unleashed, Dismember, Entombed and Exterminator. In September, Grave embarked on a tour with Nile for their album Ithyphallic, in Europe.

Recent years (2008–present)

In 2008 the band returned with a new full-length album called Dominion VIII. It was one step more back to the old school death metal roots. The next album, Burial Ground, continued the same style. In 2010, Fredrik Isaksson left the lineup and was replaced by Dismember's Tobias Cristiansson. In July 2011, it was reported that Grave was expected to begin recording a new album that fall and have it out in 2012.[3] Titled Endless Procession of Souls, it was released on August 27, 2012 in Europe and in North America on the next day.

Sweden’s legendary death metal kings GRAVE have returned home. Never let it be said they don’t know how to make an entrance.

“Home” in this case is Century Media, ground zero for their 1991 launch with “Into The Grave” and six more albums of sonic violence before seeking out new avenues following “As Rapture Comes” in 2006 with the now defunct Regain Records. And although the two records that surfaced while GRAVE was away – “Dominion VIII” (2008) and “Burial Ground” (2010) – continued to uphold the band’s penchant for quality mayhem, new outing “Endless Procession Of Souls” hits like a ton of bricks thanks to its relentless speed, crushing groove, and unexpectedly rich clarity.

Released at a time when death metal is enjoying unparalleled popularity and competition for the crown is fierce, “Endless Procession Of Souls” takes the best of what GRAVE has offered in the past and chalks up a bigger and meaner spin on things. The band's sole remaining founding member and musical director, vocalist/guitarist Ola Lindgren, is only too happy to be back on familiar turf and spearheading what has been deemed by some of GRAVE's long time supporters as their strongest and most diverse album since “Soulless” was issued in 1994.

“When we came back, Century Media asked what kind of direction we were going in – if it was something new or more like the older stuff – but they left us alone to do our own thing,” says Lindgren. “We sent the label some early mixes of the three songs and they loved the music, which was great, and when we delivered the master they were super excited and very satisfied with it.” Lindgren is joined on “Endless Procession Of Souls” by Mika Lagrén (guitars), Ronnie Bergerstål (drums) and Tobias Cristiansson (bass), which he considers one of the strongest GRAVE line-ups in years. The album’s dynamics are owed in large part to this injection of new blood, which took the pressure off Lindgren, who has been doing the vast majority of the songwriting on his own for almost 10 years. Most of this album was written at GRAVE’s rehearsal space, and in some cases Lindgren wasn’t involved at all in the early stages of the songwriting.

“It was a big relief, actually,” Lindgren admits. “There were a few times when it was just Tobias and Ronnie at the rehearsal space, and they came up with two or three songs. I just came in at the end and put the arrangements and finishing touches together with them. That kind of set the tone for the album and the direction we ultimately decided to take. There’s definitely a deeper and heavier groove feeling than the last few, and I think that drew me back to albums like “Soulless” a bit, which was also very song-oriented. Every piece of input from the other guys was good whether or not I liked it. I just had to put it through the GRAVE filter to decide if it could be on the album or not.”

GRAVE recorded “Endless Procession Of Souls” at their own Studio Soulless, with Lindgren taking on the role of producer and mixing / mastering the album himself. The results are savage, brutal and crushing, the way the band wanted it, yet the sound is clear and vibrant. Perhaps not what diehard fans want to hear when describing an epic death metal record, but this was one element in particular Lindgren was striving for: “It doesn’t sound like a washing machine, so you can hear what all the instruments are actually doing.”

When all is said and done and the bodies have been counted, “Endless Procession Of Souls” will serve as a reminder as to why GRAVE has been tagged as “legendary”. A weird honor to have according to Lindgren considering the band is still alive and kicking, but he’s grateful that the band’s 20+ year history is held in such high regard by so many people.

“Our status as a band doesn’t really hit me until we’re out playing for the fans and people we’ve had a musical impact on. Especially the older fans that have been around since the first couple albums came out. It’s a very cool thing but we don’t have our noses in the air about it. We’re just a death metal band from Sweden with a long history (laughs).”