Grave
Enraptured (DVD)

July 2008
Released: 2007, Metal Mind Productions
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Lord of the Wasteland

Along with Unleashed, Entombed and Dismember, Grave are considered the forefathers of Swedish death metal. With the one-two punch of early nineties gems INTO THE GRAVE and YOU’LL NEVER SEE…, Grave administered a death blow to metal fans and despite a lengthy hiatus from the studio following 1996’s HATING LIFE, the band has risen from the ashes with their last three albums. Certainly, it was high time Grave joined the ranks with a DVD and ENRAPTURED is everything a Grave fan—or any fan of brutal Swedish death metal—will be eager to get their hands on.



Boasting a 75-minute set from a Polish gig in August 2006, the band is in top form with vocalist/guitarist Ola Lindgren roaring through Grave’s catalogue. The groove-laced “Burn,” “You’ll Never See…,” “Rise,” “Soulless” and “Heretic” echo the band’s unwavering dedication to their original sound. Lindgren and guitarist Jonas Torndal unleash cutting riffs on “Into The Grave” and despite a rather subdued crowd—a problem with many of these Polish DVD releases—the band marches forward undeterred.





As bonus features, Grave has included a pair of live clips from the 2004 Party.San Open Air Festival and their sole promo video, “Soulless.” The two German songs actually feature a more energetic crowd than the main program, too. A twenty-minute interview with Lindgren and Torndal covering the history of Grave will certainly please the band’s fans, as well.



Grave’s place in metal history is undisputed and this career-spanning DVD is an excellent start for anyone looking to check out the band or for long-time fans. The main program is a bit limp in terms of the crowd but if one can get past that, this is an ass-kicker of a set.