Release Date: May 16th 2025. Record Label: Electric Valley Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Rays Of The Emerald Sun - Tracklisting
1.Chosen One
2.End of Time
3.Sword of Life
4.Rays of the Emerald Sun
5.Bones and Steel
6.Tower
Members
John Steele - Everything
Review
Rays Of The Emerald Sun is the second full length album from Doom/Fuzz/Psych/Stoner Metal collective Grave Speaker where the creative mastermind (John Steele) behind the project focuses on a more highly polished style of Psychedelic and Proto-Metal energy that allows the record to have a more uplifting momentum compared to their debut album. There is still a despairing sense of Doom and Gloom inspired by the likes of Electric Wizard, Uncle Acid and Black Sabbath with Grave Speaker persevering with a heavy down-tuned style of AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and wicked sounding FUZZ grooves.
The record has a vintage melodic angle with a violent element of Proto-Doom surroundings allowing the album to weave abstract Psychedelic instrumental passages that harks back to the classic sounds of Uncle Acid matched against on the seedy heaviness of Electric Wizard.
There’s a flamboyant vocal style being sung by John Steele which oozes 1970’s Heavy Metal showmanship. The vocals are sometimes muffled within the overlapping layers of heavy guitar reverb and amplifier feedback but they’re easy to understand that adds to the vintage flow that Grave Speaker ultimately aims high for and truly delivers throughout.
The songs themselves are rooted in 1970’s Doom Rock and Proto-Metal folklore with the sound having a subtle aggressive Stoner Metal attitude that allows a certain Sludge Metal angle to appear on the heaviest and seediest moments of the record especially on tracks such as Chosen One, End Of Time, Rays Of The Emerald Sun and Tower. These are the longest tracks on the album with Grave Speaker having more time to develop his classic Doomedelic sound which has become vital and threatening when that PSYCHEDELIC FUZZ attitude takes centre stage and delivers a dominant sound. The vocals are at their most impressive when John blends a crazed Blues Rock attitude into the mix which is quite subversive at the same time.
Rays Of The Emerald Sun is a mighty sounding and classic throwback to the good old days Of Proto-Metal and Doom Metal that can only be described as essential listening for the hordes of underground masses to fully get behind.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo.
Rays Of The Emerald Sun is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Electric Valley Records.
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