Light That Keeps Us [LP]

After two years of meticulous crafting and the lasting impact left behind from their sophomore offering The Periapt of Absence, which claimed a #11 spot on Decibel Magazine's Top 40 AOTY and tore through countless year-end lists, Indianapolis death-doom titans Mother of Graves return alongside Profound Lore Records with The Light that Keeps Us. Here, it is evident that Mother of Graves have no intention of slowing their evolution into fully realized territory as a quintet. The album is driven by the sharpened songwriting of guitarists Chris Morrison and Ben Sandman, the unrelenting foundation of bassist Corey Clark and drummer Don Curtis, and the expressive, poetic cadence of vocalist/keyboardist Brandon Howe. Seamlessly forging the aggression and power of death metal with the melancholic and romantic edge of melodic doom, The Light that Keeps Us is crushing, hauntingly human, and a true showcase of the band's authenticity in their expression and care for the genre. Each track serving as a hand to guide the listener through the introspective journey of mortality, sorrow, love and resilience. The band's dynamic continues to grow under the production of guitarist Ben Sandman, whose work behind the console keeps personal touch prevalent within their music, stripping away the excess and amplifying the things that matter. At the helm of visual depictions, fine artist Larisa Brechun perfectly captures the weight and depth of the music in her cover painting, providing evocative imagery to accompany the band's bleak yet uplifting nature. It has become a standard throughout their years to recruit legend Dan Swanö for his mastering expertise, but this time a greater gift presented itself as Swanö proudly delivered guest vocals on the track "Wingless Soul." A full circle moment in the band's existence, as it gives the album that much more of a special and significant engraving within the world of death doom. With The Light that Keeps Us, Mother of Graves brings to you eight tracks of despairing beauty laced in emotion and fierce purpose, marking yet another milestone in their promising career.