Decibrity Playlist: Grave

It’s obvious that we have quite a lot of love for Grave around these parts. Don’t believe me? Just check out Greg Moffitt’s review or Jonathan Horsley’s profile in our September and October issues, respectively. While the Swedish death metallers just released their new album Endless Procession Of Souls last week, guitarist/vocalist Ola Lindgren had other ideas about what direction to take his playlist (which we’ve compiled into a Spotify playlist). In fact, we’ll just let the band’s founder explain:
“It was very hard for me to think of a subject for this playlist, and I didn’t want to just go for the obvious ‘favourite death metal albums’ or something similar, especially since Greg Mackintosh had some of my classic faves in his list already. I decided to do something different, but I couldn’t do it without including some of the bands from his list since they simply have to be in mine as well. I guess it’s true that great minds think alike. So here is my playlist, featuring five of my favourite, non-death metal albums.”

Depeche Mode—Ultra (1997)
Heavy, soft, dirty and clean thrown together and mixed to perfection. One of my all time favourite productions, and it has a song for whatever mood you’re in. Not to be confused with or compared to the early synth-pop Depeche—this is a giant.

Alice In Chains—Dirt (1992)
A classic, which, in my opinion, doesn’t have much to do with the whole grunge scene. I’ve always liked AiC for their heaviness and dark lyrics combined with brilliant songwriting. Grave covered “Them Bones” on our 2006 release As Rapture Comes.

The Cult—Sonic Temple (1989)
Straight forward rock at its best. I will never get tired of these songs no matter how many times I hear ’em. Bob Rock’s production to bring this album together was the perfect match at the time. I’ve always thought about covering a track from this album—maybe for the next Grave release.

I Blame Coco—The Constant (2010)
Killer debut from Sting’s daughter Coco Sumner. Don’t really know why I’m into it so much, it’s just great songs and a great voice. I will probably not score too many cool points with this.

Queensrÿche—Empire (1990)
Epicness of the epics. Everything about this album rocks, and I think every band in the genre wishes that they would’ve came out with something like it. The production is just so perfect in every sense—and the songs too. Bear in mind that I hated and despised this when it came out hehe…

*Pick up a copy of Endless Procession Of Souls here and catch the band on tour:

Sep 20 The Casbah Charlotte, NC
Sep 21 Masquerade Atlanta, GA
Sep 22 Headliners Music Hall Louisville, KY
Sep 23 Screamin’ Willie’s Columbus, OH
Sep 24 Howard Theatre Washington, DC
Sep 25 Bogie’s Albany, NY
Sep 26 B.B. King Blues Club and Grill New York, NY
Sep 27 The Altar Bar Pittsburgh, PA
Sep 28 Trocadero Theatre Philadelphia, PA
Sep 29 Palladium Worcester, MA
Sep 30 CLUB SODA Montreal, Canada
Oct 01 The Opera House Toronto, Canada
Oct 02 Peabodys Cleveland, OH
Oct 03 BLONDIES Detroit, MI
Oct 04 Mojoes Joliet, IL
Oct 05 Station 4 St Paul, MN
Oct 06 People’s Court Des Moines, IA
Oct 07 The Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO
Oct 08 The Complex Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 10 El Corazon Seattle, WA
Oct 11 Hawthorne Theater Portland, OR
Oct 12 SLIMS San Francisco, CA
Oct 13 Ace of Spades Sacramento, CA
Oct 14 City National Grove of Anaheim Anaheim, CA
Oct 15 Marquee Theatre Tempe, AZ
Oct 16 House of Rock El Paso, TX
Oct 17 Trees Dallas, TX
Oct 18 Scout Bar Houston, TX
Oct 19 Backstage Live San Antonio, TX
Oct 21 The Firebird St Louis, MO
Oct 22 Blackened Moon Lansing, MI
Oct 23 Broadway Joes Buffalo, NY

**We update one Spotify playlist for each new Decibrity entry, so feel free to subscribe to that here. Past entries include:

Anders Nyström (Katatonia) (Part 1) (Part 2)
“Best of” Rush (Part 1) (Part 2)
Dawnbringer
Ufomammut
Shadows Fall
Horseback
Greg Mackintosh (Paradise Lost) (Part 1) (Part 2)
Torche
“Best of” Meshuggah
Astra
Pallbearer
Barren Earth
Shane Embury (Napalm Death) (Part 1) (Part 2)