Mother of Graves – 'The Light That Keeps Us' review: plenty of class, plenty of grey
The Indianapolis death-doom band impresses Metal Hammer with its songwriting and production – only the tempo and mood become too uniform over time.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Single video: YouTube · Profound Lore Records · youtube.com
Indianapolis death-doom band Mother of Graves released their album 'The Light That Keeps Us' on the Profound Lore label on 16 October. Guitarist Ben Sandman produced the eight songs; Swedish musician Dan Swanö, who usually masters the band's records, this time appears as a guest vocalist on the opener 'Wingless Soul'.
Metal Hammer reviewer Robert Müller gives it 5 out of 7. He hears the early death-doom of Katatonia, for example in 'The Silent Weight of the Stars', but sees the band as more than mere imitators. He praises the songwriting, musicianship and production without major objections: the album radiates class throughout.
Müller does have one criticism: taken as a whole, he is bothered by the monotony of the tempo and the perpetual grey of the mood. The label's YouTube channel features songs including 'Through the Pale Shade'.