The Texas-based black/doom/death metal band, KRIGSGRAV, Has just released their seventh full-length album, "Fires In The Fall," on Wise Blood Records. The album has seven tracks, with a CD-exclusive eighth bonus track. It is also worth noting that both David Sikora and Justin Coleman play lead and rhythm guitars interchangeably, depending on the track. When I saw that they play a melange of black, death, and doom metal, my interest was surely piqued. The true test, however, is whether or not they do it well. The album opener, "An Everflowing Vessel," begins with nature sounds and chanting as if the fire ritual on the album's cover is being performed. It sets the mood well. Shortly thereafter, they play a nice melodic black metal riff, then an equally nice melodic death metal riff, before a melodic doom metal passage with a slower pace. They got me with this track. The way they effortlessly shift between styles had me hooked long before the acoustic guitar strumming at the song's end.

"The World We Leave Behind" has some catchy melodic death metal riffing, while Justin Coleman sings in rasps and growls, as the song demands. I especially enjoyed his rasps in the first verse. The explosive introduction perfectly primes the pump. The hook is mostly melodic death metal done well. Be it Daniels or Sikora, the lead guitar playing makes the song for me. CD exclusive, "When I'm Gone, Let The Wolves Come" is also a standout. Luckily for those who stream their music, this track is available on most streaming platforms. I remember the feeling of excitedly waiting at the end of a CD for anything extra that wasn't printed in the liner notes and I understand the perceived reasoning behind that decision. That being said, I would hate for anyone to miss out on this track because it is a banger in the same vein as the AMON AMARTH song, "Runes To My Memory" from their "With Oden On Our Side" album. Sikora's bass lines are great, the track also takes you on the same sonic journey as "An Everflowing Vessel, with smooth transitions into and out of various metal styles, which is still awesome halfway through the album.

My favorite track on the album is "Journeyman." This song plays out like a "call-to-arms" that gets me pumped every time. There's another acoustic guitar part and the chorus is sung cleanly by Sikora. These moments are the ebb to the song's flow. I also love how the music builds to a fever pitch just before the lead guitar solo. That solo is quite the payoff. The album then closes with "Alone With The Setting Sun." Just from the title, I was initially expecting a more dour track. While it has its doomier moments, it's another rager. The black metal elements were as ferocious as black metal should be and the aforementioned doomier parts at the song's end were perfect for the requisite comedown after such an amped lead-up. Overall, "Fires In The Fall" is a fun album. It slaps. It is proof that KRIGSGRAV has hit its stride. While maybe not "year-end-list" material, it's still not one to miss.