GREY – The First Shade Of...

 
Label: Avantgarde
Release: May 30  2005
By: Empress
Rating: 7/10
Time: 50:39
Style: Suicidal Black Metal
URL: Grey
 
Hailing from France, GREY, is headed up by the solitary Santhem. A one-man band sent from Hell to haunt us into falling for its dark little secrets. Depressive, obscure black metal that is more at home with the fans of such bands as Darkthrone. Coming like a blast from the not so long ago past, when the 90’s black metal craze was in full force. Too bad that craze is all but dead, 'cause this would have been an instant cult classic! But who says black metal can't come back from the dead? Perhaps with this release we can see a re-surgance of black metal (please, oh please!).

Slower, malicious, hypnotic. You can't help but keep listening to it! With every listen you hear more and more layers to be explored and understood. Although; this album is one of those you absolutely HAVE to listen to it a few times to get into the groove of it, musically it is profound! It takes a few listens to be able to get the full effect of this album, but after it hits you, you understand. Understand this is musical genius, hitting you in the face like a ton of bricks! I learned quite quickly, that this album should NOT be listened to while driving down the road. It makes you get a malicious case of roadrage.

Track 2 Leaving This Place Once Again dark, depressing; puts you in a feeling of never-ending cold and despair. Tingling your senses with an enveloping distortion feel and a clean twanging line into darkness. I Speak Fluent Evil, don't we all? Not only does this song scream Evil, it projects it! Slower than the first track, it encompasses a whole new feeling of hatred for mankind. If you were to die, this album would be playing in the bleak, GREY, background. Let’s skip to the end, Vladian, the last track. Counting in at an unbelievable 12.28 minutes, this is a supersonic blast beat into the abyss of darkness. Demonic wails, super distorted guitars, darkly possessed by evil. This band has no need for keyboards; the distortion for the guitars alone is enough ambiences to create an atmosphere out of darkness and despair. This album is best listened to when alone, and keep all sharp objects away from you while listening.