Band:	The Defiled
Album:	Grave Times
Style:	Gothic metal
Release date:	February 2011

01. In The Land Of Fools
02. Call To Arms
03. Blood Sells
04. Black Death
05. The Resurrectionists
06. Metropolis
07. Locked In Freedom
08. The Ill Disposed
09. In Your Name
10. Final Sleep

Following up from 1888, The Defiled released their debut full length Grave Times two years later, presumably using this time to get tighter as a band because this album wipes the floor with 1888. From songcraft to production and personality, Grave Times is an improvement.

Is it an album that will blow your mind or revolutionize the metal genre? No, but that doesn't mean it can't be a fun listen. Grave Times is the audio equivalent of a cheese sandwich; it's nothing special, but it is an enjoyable meal nonetheless and will tide you over until something better comes along. If you dislike the album, it's the audio equivalent of a cheese sandwich and you're lactose intolerant.

The production is a breath of fresh air on this album; it sounds flexible and vibrant, with each instrument able to move between the back and foreground as and when required without crowding other instruments out at any point. Everything is crisp and coherent, maintaining the eerie aesthetic the band try to cultivate without having to compromise. Comparing the version of "The Resurrectionists" on here to its previous incarnation on 1888 is like comparing night and day, making the production a lot more appreciable as a result.

The AvD is again the star player; his ability to make use of any spare space in a song and fill it raises the songs to a large extent. The drumming of J.C. is competent, though it won't blow you away; to a large extent the metalcore leanings of the band derive from his playing. The drums are well produced, though. The guitar playing is not particularly noteworthy, odd riffs to add flavour here and there are welcome additions, but more often and not they work as part of a unit with the music rather than having a starring role sitting at the forefront.

The prime cuts off this album would be "Blood Sells" and "Locked In Freedom", which see the band's blend of industrial and metalcore gel to great results. Managing to be catchy, melodic and heavy without either aspect having to compromise, they are the distillation of what the band aimed for with their brand of music.

Like a cheese sandwich, there are many missing ingredients or bland parts to this album. The guitars do get samey after a while, often being relegated to chug-a-thons that is peak metalcore. The vocals on "Final Sleep" are pretty grating (I'm as good a comedian as this song is good) and do strain themselves at parts, and the song overall, while good in concept, isn't great in practice.

If you are a fan of metalcore but fancy a slight twist to the formula, then I would give Grave Times a spin; it's not the most revolutionary album you will come across, but it's a fun listen nonetheless.