GraveRipper – Seasons Dreaming Death Review

I will probably always love thrash metal more than death metal. Thrash is so awesome because it can be deathly serious like its more morbid cousin, but it is always one beer away from devolving into a party. The thrash riff is one of the most precious things that humanity has invented in its ∼300,000 year existence, and its greatness is so universal that I can easily imagine our early ancestors moshing to the mid-song groove of Slayer’s Angel of Death. When I saw the beautiful artwork for Seasons Dreaming Death, the debut album from Indianapolis thrashers GraveRipper, I had high hopes that it would inject some spice into my love affair with the riff, and when I discovered that GraveRipper’s members have been involved with projects sporting distinguished names like Partiac Arrest and Car Door Dick Smash, I figured that I was in store for a good time. Let’s see if these guys managed to leave me satisfied and smiling.

Pressing ‘play’ on Seasons Dreaming Death unleashes a torrent of thrash bolstered by bits of speed and early black metals, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d started up a long-lost version of Show No Mercy that was recorded with a different vocalist. Opening single “To the Grave” skips the foreplay and sets my head to banging immediately with a series of killer thrash riffs backed by a very powerful bass presence. The song is carried by a nice, punky bounce, and when combined with the shouted barks of vocalist Corey Parks, it gives me hints of a modern crossover band like Enforced.

Seasons Dreaming Death is 34 minutes of good, solid thrash, and it hints at GraveRipper’s potential for true greatness—especially when the band is in full-on thrash mode. Tracks like “Influx of Fear” and “Ripped and Torn Apart” show the band at their strongest. The former throws down an excellent groove, and the latter single-handedly nails the sound that Metallica has been aiming for (and missing) on their last three albums. “Resist Against the Light” is another album highlight that shows the band thrashing their hearts out and paying homage to Slayer in the best way possible.

My one complaint about GraveRipper at this early point in their existence would be that their sound varies quite a bit from song to song, and instead of enriching their identity, that sonic diversity detracts from it. I personally think these guys are at their best when engaging their pure thrash-bordering-on-crossover mode. The more blackened tracks (“Only Coldness” and the title track) are absolutely fine tracks, but they lack the punch that the more hard-hitting numbers pack. “Red Skies” actually sounds like it has a completely different production than the rest of the album, and it comes as a shock every single time the track rolls around. This only adds to the sense of inconsistency on the album. A more refined sound palette would do a lot to strengthen the record’s sense of momentum.

When all was said and done, I did, indeed, leave my time with Seasons Dreaming Death with a big, dumb smile on my face. It might not be outstanding, but there are moments of brilliance peppered throughout this competent and well-executed platter of thrash. I wouldn’t be surprised if GraveRipper drops something truly savage on us in the future. I personally think the band should embrace their pure thrash potential moving forward, but your mileage may vary.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Wise Blood Records
Websites: graveripper.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/graveripperofficial
Releases Worldwide: August 25th, 2023