Graves Of Valor delivers brutal death metal with thrash influences on Salarian Gate. They kick things off with the intense title track, coming out of the gate all full power. It's well done, but rather generic.
Songs like "Pestilence" are the band's strongest, with powerful riffs and machine-gun drums pumping along at maximum tempo, then easing into a slower but forceful groove. There are also some excellent guitar solos.
"Bridles Of Incitatus" goes from blazing fast to crushingly slow, but the 'core elements and pinch harmonics are a bit overdone. "To Breathe Blood" is a really strong song, starting off with a melodic mid-tempo intro before erupting into an extreme frenzy about a minute in. It slows back down in to a nice groove toward the end.
Welch does a nice job varying his vocal delivery. He constantly alternates low pitched growls, high pitched squeals and primal yells that add a bit of variety. Salarian Gate uses typical elements of death metal and thrash, but Graves Of Valor is adept enough at mixing things up to make it not just a typical death metal CD.
(released May 26, 2009 on Relapse Records)
