It was in 2021 when I was surprised by the debut album Zeitlang from the Bavarian band Gràb. It became part of my annual top ten best albums of that year and ranked somewhere in the top five. Now, four years later, the new record Kremess (funeral feast) has just been released by Prophecy Records.
What exactly drew me to the debut back then is hard to explain; the sound and atmosphere of that album captivated me immensely. So it’s no surprise that I was really looking forward to this release.
Since the release of Zeitlang, quite a few things have happened with Gràb. They have performed live, albeit very sparingly, and they have switched record labels—the debut was released on Trollmusic, while this new album has come out under the well-known Prophecy. That’s a significant step forward, which is also reflected in the various formats in which this album has been released: CD, DCD, 2×12”, and an exclusive box set.
With eight tracks and a runtime of 56 minutes, it’s once again a substantial piece to take in—though, just like in 2021, it’s no punishment to do so. Once again, Grànt and Gnàst manage to transport us to another time. Filled with traditional instruments and rich atmosphere, Kremess is an album that continues to captivate, revealing new surprises with every journey you embark on when you press play.
With highlights like Kerkermoasta or Vom Gråb Im Moos (A Weihraz Gschicht – Kapitel 2), where the meticulous attention to detail in the compositions is clearly audible, Kremess never bores for a single moment. Laced with piano passages, the latter takes on a dramatic tone, almost making you envision the grave before you. Lyrically, the band seems to draw inspiration from Bavarian folklore and legends, as Weihraz refers to the folk tales from the Bavarian forests.
The instrumental Waldeinsamkeit, written by Markus Stock—whom we know from Deinonychus and Empyrium, as well as for supporting Gráb live—guides us toward the finale. The heavy Dá Letzte Winter drags you deep into the icy cold for 12 minutes, leaving you searching for that one glimmer of light in the darkness—that place where the hearth burns and you can finally warm yourself.
With Kremess, Gráb once again hit the mark—this is an album that truly belongs in your collection. Now, the hope remains that the band will venture out a bit more often to bring this masterpiece to the stage.
90/100
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