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There
is definitely some depth to the work of this San Francisco
tree-piece. Formed by Amber Asylum’s Jackie Gratz and two Walken
members (guitarist/vocalist Max Doyle and drummer Zack Farwell),
Grayceon makes the kind of metal that lacks most of the typical
traits of metal; heavy guitars, dumbass macho attitude,
chocolate cookie monster vocals, incessant and senseless
arrangements, an air of sameness that’s making the scene stale,
mopey hairdo’s and chick jeans, etc, etc. The list is endless.
Instead, they give much space to the electric cello work of
Gratz, whose tender vocals along with her histrionic playing
gives most of the personality, color and texture to Grayceon.
Unlike Amber Asylum, who seem to straddle an invisible line
between classic and metal-by-default, Grayceon’s work is far
more blunt in its approach. Take for instance “Song For You”,
the cut is metal by all angles; alas there is no bestial
riffing, instead the drums keep the beat and provide the energy
from all fronts while the electric cello, along with the
occasional guitar of Doyle snake their way through the almost
stop start tempo. Was this loaded with heavy guitars, staccato
riffs would have been the clue.
This debut EP is comprised of
four songs, the shortest of which last 3:54 and the longest of
which extends exactly to the twenty minute mark. Clearly
Grayceon is at its best when simmering. “Into the Deep” is
concise; its disgraced changes are an attempt at beauty, a
quality that only turns into truth when their sound avoids
tricky tempo changes. The vocals of Gratz step in and the song
enters its second phase; there is a melancholic vibe that would
approximate them to the doom genre, but truth be told there is
plenty of light to Grayceon’s work. Perhaps is the production
work of Jack Shirley who has kept the instruments pretty
organic, but the heaviness implicit, even when directly played,
mostly by drummer Farwell. This fact keeps their work at a
respectful distance of the strict definition of doom. Enter the
eleventh minute, it is obvious that the culmination approaches;
energy sips in and an air optimism signals the up tempo speed
and improved mood. It is good to see bands like Grayceon, who
simply by existing are stretching the minds of usually close
minded metalheads. The work of a band like this has many
potential markets; fans of doom, post-rock, gothic, black metal
and even a few of those mopey haired and chick jean wearing boys
have here one record with a sound that’s bound to stretch their
heads a little bigger.
Official Site
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