Hailing from Leiden Netherlands in 2016, GRACELESS combines former members XENOMORPH & SOULBURN and have kept the exact line-up from the very start. Let me tell you being in the Metal scene for the last 35 years + and seeing the direction a lot of these newer bands are taking (which in my opinion is giving us a watered down version of the glory days of Metal) This is a call to arms that the old school death metal sound is well and truly alive and there are bands like GRACELESS that are paying tribute and are heavy influenced by the old school Dutch/Swedish Death Metal vibe that includes such pioneers as GOREFEST, ASPHYX, PESTILENECE, DISMEMBER, ENTOMBED etc.

 After three albums through the Dutch label Raw Skull Recordz, the band has signed with the French label Listenable Records. That GRACELESS took a big step here was evident from the confidence of the label, reissues of the first three albums appeared on tape, CD and vinyl before album number four was announced. 'Icons of Ruins’ Opening Track is God Shines in Absence (4:11) Right off the bat with a slow-churning chunky riff this gets my foot tapping and anticipating where this track will go and mate, I was not disappointed. Straight up you are transformed back into that old school Stockholm style death metal pioneered by ENTOMBED, DISMEMEBER, GRAVE and countless other bands. It shifts into a grooving mid‑tempo that hits you in the loins and gives you that nice buzzy feeling. A BOLT THROWER style Influence that leads you into rapid brutality.

Sanctified Slaughter (4:02) will no doubt be a crowd favourite in a live environment. This takes the headbanger on a roller coaster of slow chugging metal to blistering pace circle pit style riffs. Lash Me to My Painful Death (4:50) the GOREFEST Influence is strong in this one.  Night of the Slain (5:19) Death – Rock-n-Roll vibe that would make the fans of ENTOMBED’S Wolverine proud and reminisce about the good ole days. Hardening of the Heart (5:17) This show cases the diversity of this band nearly boarding on a gothic style fill that brings the band THE CURE and Swedish TRIBULATION into mine. Ungodliness (4:08) Midtempo grooves are on the menu for this one and catchy as a swamp full of mosquito full of malaria.

Rise of the Blackest Sun (4:51) This has a HYPOCRISY Roswell 47 vibe to it in the opening riff followed by a doom laden style tempo and vocal style on this track reminds me of GOREFEST Erase era as well. A King in the Filth (3:59) A Sludge-Drenched chunky riff kicks this one off, scattered with traces of the band MORGOTH with the bass & drums complementing each other in a well-structured Mid-pace groove, this no doubt will be a crowd pleaser in any mosh. Beneath Starless Skies (5:47) For me this is song shows that GRACELESS are by no mean a one-dimensional band, beautifully arrange atmospheric and ambient style playing really takes you on a journey to sadness and sorrow.

Resurrection of the Graveless (3:40) Finishing off the album and the intro to this song is a little cheeky riff that reminds me of BENEDICTION which in my book is bloody great. This might be the shortest track, but it delivers killer closing impact sharp, urgent, and memorable. Once again not straying from the old-school vibe and the music they are heavily inspired by. For me this is a breath of fresh air and knowing there are still bands like GRACELESS Flying the old school death metal banner with the old Dutch/Swedish death metal sounds in toe but not sounding like a copycat by any means. Outstanding.