While a lot of death metal bands like Cryptopsy and Suffocation seem to move on with their latest records to a more deathcore sound, a lot of these so called deathcore bands seem to step away from the breakdown sound, trying to position themselves between bands like Cannibal Corpse and Dying Fetus. Graves of Valor is no exception. Featuring ex-members of deathcore band Through the Eyes of the Dead, Graves of Valor comes up with their debut album Salarian Gate.

 

Formerly known as From Graves of Valor, the minor band name change didn’t change much of the sound. Melodic death metal like At the Gates mixed with some brutal and technical death influences and a slight hint of thrash metal here and there. The vocals remind me a bit of The Black Dahlia Murder, especially on the track “To Breathe Blood”, while the tempo switches from fast Dying Fetus-like drums to mid-paced parts.

The vocals are the highlight of the record, singer Damon screams grunts and squeals all the way through the 35 minutes. It’s a shame the rest of the instrumentation fail to stay interesting throughout the whole record. The vocals match the current death metal standards but the lack of originality and groove don't do much good to the whole. An incredible lot of these bands come and go every year but only few remain to stay. Salarian Gate is not a very bad record, but with so many bands like Graves of Valor these days, decisions have to be made!