BOREAL GRAVE is a Melodic Deathcore band, hailing from Finland. This is the band’s debut album. “Lothe” is the first son. It’s an aggressive, dense, and full sound, augmented with vocals that vary from high pitched screams to guttural utterings. The heavy, djent guitars also created a varied landscape and some progressive leanings. “Now You Are Free” has some nifty meter shifts to go along with the hardened sound, as well as some well-placed lead guitar parts. The vocals are especially filthy here. “In Devil’s Embrace” has some riffs that start, stop, and shift, faster than you can keep track of. The leads create this outer space sort of sound, like the music is transporting you to different planet.

The title track features some harrowing elements, the kind that make the hair stand up on the back of your neck and keep you looking over your shoulder. Again, the band fills in the background with supporting sounds, and the drums buzz at lightning speed at times. “Retaliation” is another murky and frightening song. There are some heavily cadenced moments between the vocals and drums, and the riffs mix in with perfect timing. “Mother of Evil” closes the album and was the official video release. The vocals sound like a cross between the utterings of Satan and screams from the tortured. There are also more of those backing atmospheric moments.

This was a solid album, in a genre that has tight boundaries. The band managed to keep the sound within the boundaries but at the same time, took a few chances every now and then to keep the listener on their toes.