Far too many blackened death metal bands present a mix of half-measures. For me, the top appeal of the sub-genre promises the violence and technique of death metal combined with the frozen atmosphere and raw aesthetic of black metal. The quintessential stereotypical BDM band concocts a lukewarm blend consisting of a death metal base with black metal spices. Fortunately, Graufar avoid getting bogged down in pedestrian traps.
Sharpening a sound established on the debut Scordalus , Via Necropolis displays cold tremolos, creaks and a layer of corpse paint that betrays their blackened heart, and strikes with the blood of Dissection , Necrophobic and Rimfrost . The death metal influence is more subtle, hidden in heavy grooves and wild growls that combine flawlessly.
Although Graufar‘s performances on Via Necropolis deserve praise, singer Gernot Graf deserves special recognition. His caustic vocals unleash misery and malice that awaken a primal reflex, making my throat tighten at the thought of growling.
Tracks like “Blizzard and Blaze” and “Foltertrog” show Graf’s tendency to erupt at every trace of emotion, from caustic chant to anguish. The black metal creak isn’t his only trick. Graf roars with an insatiable fire on “Charon” and “Buried in Flames”, ending in beastly spasms on “Heralds of Doom” and “Via Necropolis” and ensuring his versatile performance never lacks conviction or warmth. Graf also plays guitar alongside Michael Herber, and together they create a brilliant heap of licks, leads and grooves. And it’s the latter that stands out most, because while death metal displays it regularly, black metal rarely deigns to approve of the groove. Meanwhile, “Buried in Flames” and “On Your Knees” demonstrate Graufar‘s keen understanding of songwriting, and reinforced by Thomas Buchmeier’s sly bass and René Hinum’s precise drumming, Via Necropolis certainly delivers.
Throughout Via Necropolis , Graufar impress with their ability to create dynamic orchestrations inspired by their influences. Starting with an intro coded by Dissection on “Blizzard and Blaze”, Graufar mix in gentle clean parts, slip through the savagery of the second wave that recalls Mayhem , and even mix in throat-singing before finishing back on the clean parts. “Heralds of Doom” includes a fiery solo that recedes into a pit-ready sway, “Via Necropolis” begins with an elegant Necrophobic riff that meets Watain and builds into a doomy chorus played over manic stripes, and “On Your Knees” hits you in the face with a heavy Sepultura groove.
Despite Graufar introducing reference points, they never stay too long in any one. The songwriting is deceptively subtle, and although this works in Graufar‘s favor overall, on repeated listens I find my attention more attuned to the back half of Via Necropolis . Rearranging the tracks (“Buried in Flames” would make a fantastic opener) and lightly trimming the longest ones would add an immediacy that brings some of the back-end explosion forward.
Overall, Graufar deliver a lively showing that boasts a refreshing take on blackened death, full of wonderfully devious ideas. Via Necropolis overflows throughout its forty-two minutes and distinguishes them as a band worth following. Considering that both of Graufar‘s albums have been released independently, the band displays remarkable songwriting skill and self-production, and Via Necropolis shines with talented musicians creating well-crafted metal tracks. Better late than never, I’m glad this gem didn’t slip past me.
Rating : Very good!
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: March 20, 2026
