The Year was late 1992 when a young man full of hate and disgust began what would materialize into one of the most hateful bands in the
history of this genre of black metal. In the early days Graveland was filled with some of the most potent grief and hatred this world has ever
heard in the extreme music underground Inspired musically by one of the first true black metal bands Bathory. Rob Darken had much more
emotion that was screaming to be released from his soul and it poured later into what would be an array of promos and demos. There were five
transformations of style since the first demo Necromanteion atleast the only five here that we will cover, as this tribute is solely only interested
in the blackest years of Graveland. Drunemeton" was the second conversion, and opened up what even to this day (2005) stands on its own
two feet among the sea of carbon copycat bands and masses of false pursuers. This period to me was probably the darkest era of the bands
long history. It wasn't long after in mid 1993 that Darken teamed up with friend and now band mate Maciej DeBrowski (Capricornus) and
June 14th 1993 the legendary "In The Glare Of The Burning Churches" demo II was recorded. This was obviously influenced by a number
of church burnings in Norway. In These days Rob Darken was very close with Nergal of Behemoth which most probably don't even know.
But later this friendship would cease once Nergal would turn his back on the black metal underground for greed and popularity. Although in
this year Graveland stood with absolute darkness and hate he never wanted anything to do with (hollywood) LaVey satanism. lyrically the
band was still very close to what some may interpret as a kind of satanism or deep attraction to darkness, regardless Gravelands real hatred
was towards the Judeo-Christian dogma that seems to be very dominant in Europe and abroad. During this time alot of bands were coming out
in Poland which would later be seen as the Polish black metal scene. Spawning bands like Veles, Infernum, Legion, Fullmoon etc I still see
this scene of bands as one of the best in all of black metal underground, even with very limited production and skill on instruments it was still
able to rule with pure emotion. In December of 1993 the debut album "Celtic Winter"was recorded and released through Melissa Productions.
Due to no CD duplicating companies this was at first only released on cassette, this time with Karcharoth of Infernum on second guitar bass.
Later a weak mind full of depression and betrayal would separate any friendship between Karcharoth and Graveland. In between april and may
1994 the "Carpathian Wolves" was recorded This would end the fourth transformation and begin what most would consider as the best era of
Graveland, namely the release of Thousand Swords" which was recorded in December of 1994. During this time Graveland was having some
problems with their record label "Lethal Records" in which they were ripped off and ended up releasing the CD through Darkens own label
Isengard Distribution Around this time No Colours picked up all of Gravelands releases and the rest is history.
Although Graveland might of went towards a total pagan metal direction with their music their ideology of black metal has never changed. Their
repudiation towards commercialism in music hasn't changed. Another thing I respect is the fact that even though Rob Darken isn't an avid black
metal fan he still understands fully the purist attitude of what makes this kind of music what it is. In all the years of Gravelands existence never once
have they ever played live and if you asked him today he would probably tell you that black metal isn't meant for a live setting. Which I for one
couldn't agree more!
I would like to take the time to thank, Rob Fudali and Maciej Debrowski for allowing this tribute to be and for sharing some of the most hateful
black metal ever created.
Sincerely Tomas / Forever Plagued Records
Tracks & the bands that took part of this very special tribute
"for those that share pathways of the forever plagued"
history of this genre of black metal. In the early days Graveland was filled with some of the most potent grief and hatred this world has ever
heard in the extreme music underground Inspired musically by one of the first true black metal bands Bathory. Rob Darken had much more
emotion that was screaming to be released from his soul and it poured later into what would be an array of promos and demos. There were five
transformations of style since the first demo Necromanteion atleast the only five here that we will cover, as this tribute is solely only interested
in the blackest years of Graveland. Drunemeton" was the second conversion, and opened up what even to this day (2005) stands on its own
two feet among the sea of carbon copycat bands and masses of false pursuers. This period to me was probably the darkest era of the bands
long history. It wasn't long after in mid 1993 that Darken teamed up with friend and now band mate Maciej DeBrowski (Capricornus) and
June 14th 1993 the legendary "In The Glare Of The Burning Churches" demo II was recorded. This was obviously influenced by a number
of church burnings in Norway. In These days Rob Darken was very close with Nergal of Behemoth which most probably don't even know.
But later this friendship would cease once Nergal would turn his back on the black metal underground for greed and popularity. Although in
this year Graveland stood with absolute darkness and hate he never wanted anything to do with (hollywood) LaVey satanism. lyrically the
band was still very close to what some may interpret as a kind of satanism or deep attraction to darkness, regardless Gravelands real hatred
was towards the Judeo-Christian dogma that seems to be very dominant in Europe and abroad. During this time alot of bands were coming out
in Poland which would later be seen as the Polish black metal scene. Spawning bands like Veles, Infernum, Legion, Fullmoon etc I still see
this scene of bands as one of the best in all of black metal underground, even with very limited production and skill on instruments it was still
able to rule with pure emotion. In December of 1993 the debut album "Celtic Winter"was recorded and released through Melissa Productions.
Due to no CD duplicating companies this was at first only released on cassette, this time with Karcharoth of Infernum on second guitar bass.
Later a weak mind full of depression and betrayal would separate any friendship between Karcharoth and Graveland. In between april and may
1994 the "Carpathian Wolves" was recorded This would end the fourth transformation and begin what most would consider as the best era of
Graveland, namely the release of Thousand Swords" which was recorded in December of 1994. During this time Graveland was having some
problems with their record label "Lethal Records" in which they were ripped off and ended up releasing the CD through Darkens own label
Isengard Distribution Around this time No Colours picked up all of Gravelands releases and the rest is history.
Although Graveland might of went towards a total pagan metal direction with their music their ideology of black metal has never changed. Their
repudiation towards commercialism in music hasn't changed. Another thing I respect is the fact that even though Rob Darken isn't an avid black
metal fan he still understands fully the purist attitude of what makes this kind of music what it is. In all the years of Gravelands existence never once
have they ever played live and if you asked him today he would probably tell you that black metal isn't meant for a live setting. Which I for one
couldn't agree more!
I would like to take the time to thank, Rob Fudali and Maciej Debrowski for allowing this tribute to be and for sharing some of the most hateful
black metal ever created.
Sincerely Tomas / Forever Plagued Records
Tracks & the bands that took part of this very special tribute
"for those that share pathways of the forever plagued"
MP3 files for free download
GRAVELAND TRIBUTE IMAGE
Darkest Grove Tenebrous Xasthur
MP3 "Children Of The Moon" MP3 "Unpunished Herd" MP3 "Witches Holocaust"
MP3 "Return Of Funeral Winds" (NOT At The Pagan Samhain Night!!)
Despair Toil
MP3 "Born For War" MP3 "Thurisaz
