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"
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
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"
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
