Our beloved GRAVE PLEASURES (Ex-Beastmilk), after major changes in their roster and name, are returning with ‘Dreamcrash’, a record which must surpass their legendary debut, ‘Climax’. For everyone’s information, the band do not collaborates any more with guitarist Goatspeed, who was one of the main composers of ‘Climax’, so the record we have in front of us is product of Kvohst, Valtteri Arino, Linnea Olson and Uno Bruniusson.
The departure of Goatspeed was an event which everybody knew that would alter the style of Grave Pleasures’ music. ‘Dreamcrash’ was expected to be at least slightly different than ‘Climax’, but the change was bigger than the expected one. The second full-length record of Grave Pleasures is a punk one and if I need to be specific about it I would call it an apocalyptic-punk one.
The first four songs must be considered as the album’s strongest ones; a dynamic kick-start for Grave Pleasures. From the very beginning and ‘Utopian Scream’ the change in the sound of the band can be easily noticed, as it is striped out of the gothic-rock elements we could found in ‘Climax’. ‘New Hip Moon’, the record’s best single, presents the melodic and poetical culture behind the band’s vision, with Kvohst producing his most theatrical vocals. On the other side, ‘Futureshock’ is a song that could easily be a Dead Kennedys one, punk influenced and with awesome, rhythmical riffs from the guitars and the drums.
Without surprising the audience, just like in ‘Climax’, the record continues rather smoothly, with ‘No survival’ and ‘Lipstick on your tombstone’ to be in the frontline. The production of the record is stripped out of the darkness and the philosophy that created Climax, in order to serve best the punk-vibe and the madness visualized by the band for ‘Dreamcrash’. The sound is direct, trying to reach a jam-like session but, in the meantime, is clear and flawless as well. The vocals are meant to be theatrical, powerful, as well as outlined with simplicity and a wonderful ‘misery’. Kvohst gives his best as well as everyone in Grave Pleasures.
‘The End Is Night’ and the Grave Pleasures celebrates once more. Without being able to reach the standards ‘Climax’ established for the band, ‘Dreamcrash’ manages to get appreciation and attract newest fans, especially punk-rockers. There may be songs included which do not impress, but the record balances with its aces, initiating a new era for the band, an era which will be sealed with many successful gigs too.
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