GRAVEWORM is Italian Extreme Metal formed in 1992. Blending Melodic Death and Symphonic Metal with Gothic and Black Metal as well, they create one of the more unique sounds around. Killing Innocence is their ninth studio release, issued by AFM Records on April 28, 2023. The album opens with ambient strings and a piano, shaping an ethereal intro that will become something heavy, dark, and foreboding. "Escorting The Soul" takes a plunge into Thrash-tinged Death Metal. Blast beats and a hardcore bass line support guitar work that laces together Black, Death, and Melodic Metal.

Next, "We Are The Resistance" begins heavy and never wavers. The guitar riff is quite nice, using a modulated phrasing for the verses and going over the top for the chorus. The shifts in patterns from the drums and bass are so precise, it is pretty obvious that GRAVEWORM is well practiced in writing songs that have complex rhythms and intricate leads. "Wicked Mind" ramps up the intensity by taking the tempo to new heights. Hitting higher beat per minute counts than most bands can even dream of. All of that is before they take a turn for the slower side with "If The World Shut Down." The drums stay in the blast beat realm while the guitars drop the pace, creating some sonic tension. This is a melodic track with a sinister tone driven by a bit of fatalism in the lyrics.

The tempo of the individual songs varies, but they all have similar elements to them. There are other subtle differences that make each track unique. The pianos layered in on "A Nameless Grave" add some delicate textures to the heaviness. Next, "End Of Time" brings in strings with piano to set up a dark, ethereal song that is both haunting and ethereal. Timeless and current. "In Honour Of The Fallen" brings the album to a close with a mid-tempo track, providing another facet of the band. Every song has something different that appeals to different parts of the brain.

GRAVEWORM has the ability to manipulate their tones to fit the theme of the song, both musically and lyrically. Each song brings a unique element to the mix, wreaking havoc on the psyche and emotions. The vocals, the rhythms, the riffs, and the leads all play with the listeners thoughts and feelings, driving them to analyze what they feel and how they view life, death, and everything in between.