THE BRAVE: Gravedigger
The Unpublished Almost Forgotten Review
[This review of Gravedigger – originally slated for publishing early 2023 – was never, for some unknown reason, completed. Regardless, it recently surfaced, and in lieu of the upcoming new album from these guys this year, finally see’s the light of day.]
Brave Resurrection – Part II
Gravedigger represents The Brave (resurrected) part II. In 2021 they released Evie’s Little Garden, one of the best sleeper releases from that year, for sure. Akin to Alice Cooper’s trilogy (The Last Temptation, Brutal Planet, Dragontown), which conceptually dealt with the essential problems with humanity (sin), The Brave have refocused and committed to self-releasing a trilogy of records with Stayce Roberts at the helm (man, this guy is a great musician/writer/producer).
Moving away from the Elefante production sheen of the early ‘90’s while retaining the melodic rock/hard rock grit from that era, Roberts succeeded in Part I in delivering a sincerely brilliant collection of poignant, yet uplifting songs. Gravedigger is basically a continuation of that album’s formula, with maybe a few more contemporary twists and experimentation.
Where Alice Cooper chose to expose the disease without expounding upon the cure, The Brave, to their credit, have provided listeners with both the problem and the solution. In comparison to Evie’s Little Garden, I think Gravedigger is a bit more melodic, more AOR, which might disappoint fans of hard rock/metal, but it’s so good that those factors should hardly matter. The songwriting and production on this release are phenomenal, and the lyrical integrity is exceptional, so no fan of the band should hesitate to embrace these tunes.
Melodic Bliss
Gravedigger is just a notch “softer” on the heaviness scale compared to its predecessor, but this isn’t to say the quality has dropped off. Again, I come back to Alice Cooper, who didn’t maintain the metal intensity of Brutal Planet on subsequent releases, but that didn’t make Dragontown or Welcome to My Nightmare II any less enjoyable or thought-provoking.
The vocal melodies on this release are really, really good. I would say the emphasis on heavy music is secondary to the melody and the words. While fans of metal may not find these songs to be their drink of choice, good music is good music. Furthermore, it’s not like there aren’t some great guitar leads and licks going on here, it’s just that with Gravedigger, the music serves the vocals/words.
From the Bottom Up
The themes here transparently portray – without judgment – the struggles we face living in the world today. I think “Strange New World” – even though it’s the last song on the album – nicely sums up the sentiment, the sober observations…
“And I’m just watching the world we’re living on/All the promise of hope just seems to be gone/We’re turning a page, a different age we’re in.”
The “pop-y” 80’s groove and keyboards and melodic AOR vocals here perfectly juxtapose the joy of a certain yester-time with the “strangeness” of the current age.
“Afterlife” is a praise/contemporary worship styled song about what we look forward to, well… after life. Simple, humble, beautiful with piano and voice initially subsequently accompanied by drums and bass and then finally a smoothly executed guitar solo.
Some of The Brave’s lyrical ingenuity shines forth on the mid-tempo Alice Cooper meets King’s X rocker about a different take on death from the perspective of “The Undertaker.” Those King’s X/Ty Tabor-like bridge and chorus vocals are nicely balanced against the grittier chorus vocals. One of the most colorful and well-executed songs on Gravedigger.
Remember the introductory comments about The Brave’s willingness to expound upon the cure? “Love is the Only Place” acknowledges pain and restores hope, and its paired nicely in tandem with the similarly encouraging “Someone’s Watching Over Me,” which offers an antidote to loneliness. While both songs are light rockers, the double bass drum rolls underneath the guitar solo during the breakout of “Someone’s” imparts a bit more rock heaviness to the mix, and that bass guitar in the ride out section stands out as well.
While it could be argued that “Heaven Knows” clings to the cliché elements, both musically and lyrically, of ‘80’s AOR rock/CCM, the song is executed so perfectly – the rich vocals calling out in earnest – that it hardly matters. A healthy reminder wrapped in a delicious trip down memory lane.
Fans of Evie’s grit rock riddled with perfect melodies will embrace “Alive” which is another colorful song full of delightful characters, killer chorus hooks, guitar bliss and the timeless truth.
“Down through the ages/It’s been written in the pages/Of a Man who was crucified/And only through Jesus who died to redeem us/Can our spirit be glorified”
“Temples” smartly combines funk elements with Zepp-y vibes to create a retro ‘70’s atmosphere to “tear your temples down.” This trippy number perfectly conveys the work of the Spirit…
“You built a dark wall around your heart/But now it’s time for me to tear it all apart”
One of the darker Cooper-ish songs here, “Ghosts” offers up a bit of dynamic contrast along with drummer Spittle’s groove and tom work, synth sounds and a ripping guitar solo. The ebb and flow of the music creates a tension which nicely depicts the ongoing spiritual warfare. Love the calling on “my demon hunter” reference.
As ethereal acoustic guitar driven ballads go, “Eternal” may seem a bit derivative at first glance, but most listeners with both an appreciative and critical ear will derive joy amidst the simplicity of the familiar.
The unapologetic “Bravenation” wonderfully hearkens back to Battle Cries with a hugely infectious chorus section, yet the more contemporary musical approach sounds fresh and vital. Equal parts lament and praise, the song cements The Brave to their roots while simultaneously reigniting the flames of their passion.
“Bad Day” is another big-production show-y rocker with the message of resistance against the Deceiver’s play for oppression. Which brings us right up to the surface with where the “Gravedigger” begins his business.
“He’s digging holes for us all”
The music swings like “Cherry Pie” and the melody hooks – especially in the chorus – line and sinker. If big melodic commercial rock was still looking for radio hits, the title track would shovel the competition in the grave.
Buried
Gravedigger is a successful successor to Evie’s Little Garden. Not only does it match the quality in terms of musical production, sound quality, lyrical integrity and creativity, it perfectly complements those songs with a slight shift in style and emphasis. Stay tuned for more with the new album from The Brave…
The CD comes with 16-page booklet/jewel case.
1. Gravedigger (4:56)
2. Bad Day (3:56)
3. Bravenation (5:05)
4. Eternal (4:38)
5. Ghosts (5:21)
6. Temples (5:04)
7. Alive (5:03)
8. Heaven Knows (5:54)
9. Someone’s Watching Over Me (5:36)
10. Love is Only Place (5:02)
11. The Undertaker (4:45)
12. Afterlife (6:15)
13. Strange New World (5:30)
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