(N)Utopia

Graveworm sounds much more focused on “[N]utopia”, with the atmospheric breaks in their compositions being much tighter and well arranged than on “Engraved In Black.”

Determinedly drab sounding (in a good way), “The Machine” is very similar in nature to the recent output of Dark Tranquillity, but with much raspier vocals. This track contains a noticeable refrain that other bands of this ilk often ignore in favor of relying on brash atmosphere singularly in order to satisfy the listener’s attention.

The title track is a variation upon the same stylistic theme, with the darker, lower vocals coming into the mix here and a shockingly commercial melody ushering in the cut. The group relies on a building stop action pattern to bestow the chorus with its semblance of memorability, building into a chant that infuses the track with even more thrust.

Those who enjoy Dimmu Borgir will surely get into tracks like “Hateful Design.” It is the adroit melding of haunting harmonies and darkened aggression that makes the music of Graveworm resound with such a tremendous force.

But while Graveworm is decisively melodic and undoubtedly ear catching, they retain their roots in black metal. This is one example of a band that can be successful with the amalgamation of keyboards and catchy riffs, whereas others come off as cliché, Graveworm actually manages to make the sound work fine for them.

“[N]utopia” is quite an imaginative leap for a group that has finally found its distinctiveness. From an all-out blasting and battering to poignant, scene-setting electronic interludes, this record shows that Graveworm has evolved into one of the most heady dark metal bands of the present day.