It is dusk.
Heavy clouds are passing over my house.
Dark thunder rumbling, getting closer.
People are quickly running along the sidewalk.
The description of the weather development outside my window could not be more fitting for the music of THE COFFINSHAKERS.
The band from Sweden has released their third album, “Graves, Release your Dead“. For a band that has been around for 28 years, that’s not exactly a large output. The last album is a full 16 years old. Many bands don’t last that long.
Many moons have risen and many nights have passed. So it’s no surprise that this album incorporates many new influences. At the top of the list is the influence of Americana and dark country.
Upon first listening, even with the first song, Johnny Cash immediately came to mind. The guitar playing and melodies repeatedly remind me of the old master. Although singer Rob has a very distinctive voice of his own, it occasionally also reminds one of Johnny Cash. That’s not a bad reference and is meant to express my associations; it should not come across as if the band is trying to leverage Johnny Cash's fame. THE COFFINSHAKERS don’t need to do that at all. They are independent enough and prove across the ten songs of the album that they know and love darkness in all its facets.
Here, Americana meets country, bluegrass, and dark rock. Blues is embraced and taken along. There’s also a slight nod towards the gothic direction. The whole thing is shaken three times, not stirred, and then bottled. The result is a very diverse mix carried by a dark aura.
Here and there it might be a bit overdone, but who cares when darkness envelops everything?
“Graves, Release your Dead“ has several songs that could serve as film music for dark, hopeless westerns. They work just as well in small bars at 5:00 AM. On stage, I imagine a production with lots of fog. Yes, it’s a bit eerie, a bit morbid, but also fascinating.
Darkness and death have fascinated humanity since the dawn of history. This fascination can be not only heard but almost felt on the new record by THE COFFINSHAKERS; the third album is that atmospherically dense.
For lovers of the dark side and dreamers in black, this work is something very special. Something valuable!
