Sacramento symphonic power metal band Graveshadow emerged in 2014 with their debut, self-titled EP. Fast-forward to 2022, and we find Graveshadow releasing a new album – The Uncertain Hour – with a revamped lineup. Let’s take a peek at the new incarnation and tease out what changes and similarities are evident in the new music.
The album opens with “Soldier of 34” – a song that starts subtly then moves into strong riffing supported by furious drumming. The verses have alternations with one line in clean singing followed by another using harsh vocals in a call-and-response fashion. The chorus is a more mid-paced. It’s not a bad track, but personally one didn’t really do it for me.
Track two is “Gwynnbleidd,” the first song released featuring the band’s new line-up well over a year ago. The guitars have a nice sound to them on this song, and while the chorus is again a bit restrained for my taste, overall the song is well-executed. New singer Rachl ‘Raxx’ Quinn sounds strong and capable here as she does throughout the album – she’s more than a capable replacement who brings her own style while still delivering the classic Graveshadow sound.
You get even more of a feel for new vocalist Quinn’s vocal approach and prowess on the next one - “Sea of Apparitions.” This is a nice, rollicking track – uptempo, strong and bouncey. There’s some great riffs hidden in there. And I really like the pre-chorus section that builds the song’s energy into the crescendous chorus. An excellent track.
“The Swordsman” – which is also one of the pre-release singles from the album – has a pleasant, cohesive feel. The vocal melody doesn’t always quite do it for me on this one, but the instrument-work and overall composition more than make up for that. This one also features a guest harsh vocal assist by Chelesea Murphy of Prosthetic Record’s Dawn of Ouroboros.
Back to the tracks: “Vengeance of Envy” is an energetic, mid-paced rocker with an amazing chorus. Quinn’s voice really shines here, successfully selling out on her high notes and melding perfectly with the guitars. This one gives me mid-80s era Judas Priest vibes. The next song, “A Beautiful End,” really harkens back to the older Graveshadow sound in its riffing and pacing, so much so I wonder if Walker and Robitsch developed it from ideas unused from a previous album. Regardless, it evokes some nostalgia for me. The kitwork of new drummer ‘bones’ really pulls this track together.
Working through the later tracks: “The Betrayer” has some nice flourishes, including letting the keys show themselves at a bit higher level in the mix. It’s another solid rocker. “Shadow Battles” is another song that for me evokes memories of previous Graveshadow songs. In fact, this track would have been right at home on their debut record. I really like the ability here for the guitars to create some brief fits of sonic frenzy while still keeping a consistent melody rolling.
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the album is the pentultimate track “The Two Lived,” which has a very different feel to it, albeit still recognizably Graveshadow. It’s a bit slower tempo, and the clean singing plays more of a support role to the growls which do most of the heavy lifting. There are hints of Insomnium on this one. A nice change of pace and approach; I hope they do more of this in the future.
The finale is “Damsel’s Finesse,” which at seven minutes is the longest track on the album and one of my favorites. The keys are fresh and visible, the guitars crisp in their attack, and the singing colorful. I really, really love the vocal melody on the verses and the build-up to the glorious chorus. An absolute gem of a song and one I’d love to hear the band play live!
Given their significant lineup changes, I’m impressed and happy that The Uncertain Hour has retained so much of the magic that makes Graveshadow one of my favorite bands. This album met my own high expectations, and so I can only recommend it highly to others.