CoC : Graveworm - (N)utopia : Review

Graveworm - _(N)utopia_
(Nuclear Blast, 2005)
by: Aaron McKay (8.5 out of 10)

The dark eclectic Italian sextet better known to the world as Graveworm have again laid out a substantial nine track experience they've dubbed _(N)utopia_, their fifth album. Arguably a progressive step forward from 2003's _Engraved in Black_, Graveworm expand their developed atmospheric approach with _(N)utopia_. "Timeless" and "Deep Inside", compliments of Sabine Mair on keyboards, deliver the preeminent examples of Graveworm's diverse ambiance on this release. Stefan Fiori's vocals employ all the necessary aggressiveness while maintaining an understandable blackened rasp to further cultivate mood throughout the disc. Strong guitar passages, laden heavy with decent riffs, are prevalent on most tracks on the effort, but could have been pushed more prominently for a richer sound on the new album. It seems with few exceptions on _(N)utopia_, both guitarists, Eric Righi and Lukas Flarer, seem to subjugate clearly decisive licks to the broader melody. There is definitely room on this effort for both an atmosphere undercurrent and thicker guitar riffs. Rounded out by Moritz Neuner on drums and Harry Klenk on bass, Graveworm explore a vast expanse of mid-paced gothic, intense atmospheres and darkened, aggressive metal. _(N)utopia_'s production is again at the accomplished hands of Andy Classen, and that fact is more evident than ever on this disc. Nearly thirty-nine minutes in length, the latest Graveworm release is replete with mature and interesting material that more than celebrates the achievements of this band's brilliant and hopefully continually abundant career.

Contact: http://www.graveworm.de

(article published 31/5/2005)

ALBUMS
8/16/2009	A Lineker	7	Graveworm - Diabolical Figures
6/17/2003	J Smit	6.5	Graveworm - Engraved in Black

GIGS
12/26/2003	J Smit	Deicide / Destruction / Nile / Akercocke / Dew-Scented / Graveworm / Misery Index	Redemption at the Palace