Year: 2024
Total Time: 35:14
Label: Nuclear Blast
GRAND MAGUS return after five years with their new album, following the somewhat underwhelming «Wolf God» by their standards. Clocking in at just 35 minutes, the album leaves the impression of a brief experience. It pulls you in quickly, only to end before you fully realize it, with the aptly titled closing track, «The End Belongs to You».
Each song on «Sunraven» has its own identity, style, and theme, while also sharing common elements that tie the tracks together. Every song feels like it tells its own distinct story, without strictly adhering to a singular formula.
One standout feature of the album is its strong Blues influence. This is something frequently seen in Doom and Heavy/Doom bands, and GRAND MAGUS skillfully harness this bluesy flow, with the spirit of BLACK SABBATH heavily present throughout the album. This influence permeates their latest work, offering something both familiar and warmly welcomed.
Despite the diversity in styles, the album’s influences are easily recognizable. The opening track, «Skybound» evokes the sound of SOYNDGARDEN’s final album, «King Animal». The tracks «Grendel» and «To Heorot» are quintessential GRAND MAGUS, while the intro to «The Wheel of Pain» is almost identical to the live intro of AMON AMARTH’s «The Pursuit of Vikings»—uncannily so.
The title track, on the other hand, bears clear influences from QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, while «Hour of the Wolf» with its fast-paced rhythm and driving energy, recalls the early days of JUDAS PRIEST, albeit with a grittier and raspier vocal performance that gives it a fresh, unique dimension. Meanwhile, «The Black Lake» is a pure SABBATH-esque song, imbued with all the soul of the greats.
Despite its overall quality, the album’s short duration might leave listeners with a sense of incompleteness—or perhaps not. For a Heavy/Doom band, one might expect something more expansive. The production also falters at times, with the vocals occasionally too low or the bass too overpowering, though these are minor details that don’t significantly affect the listening experience. J.B. Christofferson’s vocals, brimming with power and authority, demand attention. His distinctive voice, coupled with his delivery, is genuinely impressive. All in all, it’s a solid work—certainly better than their last three releases, though it doesn’t quite reach the heights of their most classic records.
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Antonis Braikidis
Related Link: GRAND MAGUS – Official Site
