Review by Marcelo Vieira on August 4, 2024.

Poland’s Graveland - 21 full-length LP’s under their belts. You read that correctly. Probably the most prolific black metal band the world has ever seen, and their work has spanned a variety of different musical/lyrical influences from the rawer black metal stylings of their debut to their later Hammerheart era Bathory worship. Lyrical themes to include Paganism, Wotanism, Celtic theology, war and traditional anti-Christian themes. Mastermind Rob Darken has proven over the past 33 years to be quite the student of black metal and a Sage within the realm of mysticism. In 1994, following the release of a handful of demos, Graveland released their debut “Carpathian Wolves” LP via Eternal Devils. 

Filth and grime, evil and appallment illuminated by an oft crepuscular atmosphere, but ultimately a raw affair in regard to guitar tonality and not much in the way of percussive elaboration - a wicked carnivalesque vibe to tracks like “In the Northern Carpathians” and “Impaler of Wallachia”. The former a crime of bestial aggression/compositional brilliance and the latter a deranged epic - drum-rolling forward a maddening keyboard-driven cacophony of screaming vocals and maniacal arrangements fit to soundtrack a frantic disembowelment rather than a flash-in-the-pan impaling. 

Straight to the point, lyrics and song titles in English and thrillingly epic, well-crafted black metal. These tracks will not ensnare you with repetitive choruses, catchy hooks or chugging riffs, but with the highly visual nature of the music as its atmosphere invokes images of winter-torn wilderness and wolves reveling under the solstice moon. “Carpathian Wolves” is like a theatrical production of a black metal album - a dramatic journey with many segments and very little doubling back. Graveland rely on sheer enchantment as a means to keep you locked into the experience as opposed to the anticipation of the next chorus. It feels like each track probably took several hours to write - a labyrinthine quest - spellbinding but also demanding of the taker in. An intro, an outro and a bloody feast of comprehensive black metal in between. BM for exploration! Of grande proportions and fit for Barbarism. 

Did you know that it’s okay for white Europeans to take pride in their heritage? To celebrate the strength of their bloodline just as everyone else does. Graveland are not a neo-Nazi band and never have been. Albums like “Carpathian Wolves” are a celebration! Of lore, of heritage and of ways forlorn. Bands like Graveland who’ve so boldly explored the spheres of mysticism and of ancient practices are just as vital to black metal as the Satanic and Occult-driven hordes. Pride in heritage all day: the tales, the Pagan history and the proud warriors of yore. 

“Carpathian Wolves” - a seemingly endless tapestry of creatively melded together ideas that feel like one of those enthralling four-hour-long movies from back in the day, despite its rather standard runtime. One of the great Polish bands, one of black metal’s greatest achievements. With “Carpathian Wolves”, Graveland spit in the face of conventionality and basically make the Scandinavian scene of that era sound remedial. May the Heathen bonfires blaze the night now as the sun sets o’er Valhallen mountains ranges, and may Graveland continue what’s been an epic musical journey.

Rating: 10 out of 10