Few debut albums have been so hot anticipated as that of London underground noise merchants The Defiled. It's felt like a long wait, but not only is Grave Times a beast of an album, but it's also a timely reminder that you don't need overly flamboyant, twiddly guitars to get a great heavy sound with a wide appeal. Grave Times is a record packed with beefy chugging riffs and flawlessly tight drums, reminiscent of Fear Factory at their creative height, but with a passion in Stitch D's vocals that was often missing from FF. Exciting and refreshingly different, there are some genuinely massive tracks on here; songs like the explosive Call to Arms deserve to be recognised for the truly fantastic drums and Stitch D's fantastic vocal range, combining both powerful screams and flawless clean singing. The Ressurectionists, the highlight of the album, has the best chorus I've heard in a long time, with a tune that truly sticks in your head, whilst the verses showcases the band at their brutal heaviest. Few albums these days truly stand up as an entire work, however Grave Times has been masterfully produced and all of the songs on the record have been carefully constructed with a technical intricacy. The echoes and subtle synths give the tracks depth, over the huge guitar riffs and double-bass driven drums.
As debuts go Grave Times is an impressive offering, giving little to criticise and an already well-established sound. A rising star on the British live scene through their relentless touring, The Defiled have a massive, and well earned, future ahead of them, with their unbeatable combination of tight brutality with melodic hooks.

Album rating: 9/10
Best Tracks: "Call to Arms", "The Ressurectionists", "Blood Sells"
For Fans Of: Fear Factory, Deathstars, Dir En Grey