Krigsgrav – Fires in the Fall [Things You Might Have Missed Missed 2023]

Sometimes, first time’s a charm. Sometimes, third time. And sometimes, perseverance is rewarded and it’s the seventh. Such is the case with Dallas, Texas-based band, Krigsgrav. Operating quietly in the shadows since 2004, Krigsgrav have been producing atmospheric black metal that has, over time, become more deathly, more potent, more melodic. Now, with Fires in the Fall, they add a sprinkle of doom, and suddenly, everything clicks into place. Like smoke billowing into the air, Krigsgrav fill the sky, and you would be a fool to ignore their latest effort.

While Krigsgrav’s influences are clear, what separates the band is how beautifully those are combined to form a unique experience. Play a few songs for a few different metalheads and ask them what they’ve just listened to, and you’ll hear everything from “melodic death” to “atmospheric doom.” Krigsgrav take the blueprints of everyone from Agalloch, to Paradise Lost, and combine them into a whole that is epic, massive and catchy. The addition of doom lends the material weight that previous efforts have lacked. Songs like, “When I’m Gone, Let the Wolves Come,” and “The World We Leave Behind” are epic and fast, but become simply gigantic when things slow down, and beefy, burly riffs take over. Adding something so different to the mix was a risk, but one that has handsomely paid off.

The other impressive aspect of Fires in the Fall is how seamlessly the elements are chewing-gummed together. Songs will shift from furious black, to melodic death, to heavy doom, all within a few minutes (check out the crazily impressive “The Black Oak”), and it sounds natural and progressive. This eclectic shift, combined with a robust and clean production, results in an album that absolutely flies by. At 53 minutes, it is on the longer side, but trust me, you will barely notice.

With Fires in the Fall, Krigsgrav have stepped out of the shadows and created something potent and fierce, finding an aesthetic uniquely theirs. There’s a reason it was released in the North American Summer—the sound here is fiery. Think Vanum’s Ageless Fire or Kvaen’s The Funeral Pyre. It is also, weirdly, with it’s melodicism, an excellent companion piece to Fires in the Distance’s Air Not Meant for Us. Krigsgrav have come out of nowhere and created an album that people would just not shut up about. That sort of longevity among metalheads is rare and should be reason enough for you to take notice. I know you have probably finalized your end-of-year list, but if you haven’t at least considered Fires in the Fall, then, I’m afraid, it’s incomplete. This one burns hot.

Tracks to Check Out: “An Everflowing Vessel,” “The Black Oak,” “Journeyman”